Nicholls State University men’s basketball welcomed Jovan Coleman to the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach in the summer of 2024. A rising talent in the coaching profession, Coleman has quickly built a diverse résumé, gaining experience at the NCAA Division I, NAIA, and NCCAA levels while establishing himself as a dedicated recruiter, player developer, and basketball mind.
Coleman arrived at Nicholls after spending the 2023-24 season at Creighton University, where he served as a Graduate Assistant under head coach Greg McDermott. During his time in Omaha, the Bluejays won 25 games and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, with Coleman playing an integral role in the development of All-BIG EAST standouts Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman, and Trey Alexander. That season, Scheierman was selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, while Alexander signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. In addition to his on-court responsibilities, Coleman earned his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Creighton.
Prior to his time at Creighton, Coleman served as the top Assistant Coach at Brewton-Parker College (NAIA) during the 2022-23 season. In addition to his work in player development and game preparation, Coleman made an immediate impact in recruiting, signing, and developing the program’s first All-Conference player in 10 years.
He was the top Assistant Coach at Toccoa Falls College (NCCAA) in 2021-22, where he helped lead the program to a school-record win total while working under head coach Leonard Epps. Coleman’s recruiting efforts played a key role in the team’s success, as he signed and developed the NCCAA South Region Freshman of the Year and a National NCCAA Second Team All-American.
Coleman began his coaching career at the high school level, spending two seasons (2019-21) at Pearl High School (MS) as an assistant coach for the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams. He also served as the head coach of the 7th and 8th-grade boys’ program and worked as a PE teacher in the Pearl Public School District.
A Mississippi State University graduate, Coleman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Psychology, Kinesiology, and Education. While at Mississippi State, he spent three seasons as a student manager, including one as co-head manager, working under head coach Ben Howland and gaining firsthand experience in the daily operations of a high-level Division I program.
Coleman’s relentless work ethic, keen eye for talent, and commitment to player development make him a vital part of the Nicholls State program. His ability to build relationships, foster a winning culture, and elevate players’ performance contributes to the team’s success on and off the court.
A native of East Biloxi, MS, Coleman is the son of Maxine Williams and Joseph Coleman.
