New Mexico State‘s basketball program ended its training search Friday, formally revealing the hire of Sam Houston State’s Jason Hooten.
The Aggies zeroed in on Hooten previously in the week, sources stated, and had the ability to seal the deal in spite of Sam Houston’s efforts to keep him from its intraconference competitor.
” I think Coach Hooten is an incredible suitable for New Mexico State,” athletic director Mario Moccia stated. “Throughout his training profession, he has actually shown a capability to develop hard-nosed, defensive-minded groups. Significantly, his programs are constantly designed on character and stability.”
Hooten signs up with the Aggies after 13 seasons at Sam Houston State, where he acquired 6 20-win seasons and a minimum of 18 wins in each of the last 10 seasons. He directed the Bearkats to the Southland regular-season champion in 2019 and likewise landed the front runner in this season’s WAC competition.
Prior to ending up being Sam Houston’s head coach, Hooten was an assistant coach with the Bearkats for 6 seasons.
With Hooten’s hire, New Mexico State is intending to turn the page from an awful season that left a cloud over the Aggies’ program. They canceled their season in February after hazing allegations versus 3 gamers. An authorities report mentioned 3 gamers for unlawful imprisonment, harassment and counts of criminal sexual contact versus a colleague.
3 months previously, a New Mexico State gamer, Mike Peake, shot and eliminated a New Mexico trainee in what cops have actually called self-defense. Numerous examinations have actually been introduced to figure out whether coaches and team member complied with cops and were upcoming with proof following the shooting.
Hooten changes Greg Heiar, who was fired quickly after the season’s cancellation in February.