Aug. 7, 2017
Official Announcement
Photo Gallery
San Jose, Calif. --- Jean Prioleau was introduced as San José State University's new head men's basketball coach by University president Dr. Mary A. Papazian and director of athletics Marie Tuite.
A packed Student Union Theatre greeted the trio on the main stage with a standing ovation before Papazian began with her opening comments.
"When I met with Jean I had a good feeling that we may have found our guy," Papazian said. "He met many criteria for us including previous success, strong west coast recruiting ties and he knows the Mountain West Conference well.
He is a great role model for our student-athletes, whether in basketball or for any of our sport programs. He unquestionably values learning, he understands power of a San José State University degree and he is committed to student-athlete success in the classroom and on the court."
From there Tuite took over explaining the elite level of interest that was expressed for the head men's basketball coach opening at San José State, and that above all Jean Prioleau was the man for the job.
"In meeting with coach Prioleau I found strong moral compass, a commitment to the well being of our student-athletes, a strong recruiter and someone who will work tirelessly to increase the awareness of SJSU men's basketball.
"We work hard here at San José State. We roll our sleeves up and get after it. And this man to my right is going to get after it. He's going change the era and the face of San José State men's basketball."
With a smile Prioleau took the spotlight for the first time as the Spartans' head coach, and for him the first time as a collegiate head coach.
He thanked his family, President Papazian, Tuite, the advisory committee and many coaches and administrators from both his playing days and during the previous 18 years as an assistant and associate head coach.
He mentioned his vision for the vision of San José State men's basketball.
"The vision is to graduate our players consistently and to compete for championships consistently," Prioleau said. "We want to do that sooner than later but that is our vision.
Our core values will include respect, accountability, passion, integrity and discipline. And we will have those things. Those core values will drive us to build relationships with the student body, Silicon Valley, California and beyond."
Prioleau closed the event by leading a unified a "Spartan up" with the crowd.
Keep an eye out for information coming soon about San José State basketball season and single-game tickets from the Spartan Ticket Office.