LaVall Jordan
LaVall Jordan in 2015
Biographical details
Born (1979-04-16) April 16, 1979 (age 44)
Albion, Michigan, U.S.
Playing career
1997–2001Butler
2002–2003Huntsville Flight
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2003–2007Butler (assistant)
2007–2010Iowa (assistant)
2010–2016Michigan (assistant)
2016–2017Milwaukee
2017–2022Butler
Head coaching record
Overall94–98 (.490)
Tournaments1–1 (NCAA Division I)
0–1 (NIT)

LaVall Jurrant Jordan (born April 16, 1979) is an American college basketball coach, most recently the head coach for the Butler Bulldogs.[1] He is a former head coach of Milwaukee, as well as assistant coach at Michigan, Iowa, and Butler. In six seasons as an assistant coach under Michigan head coach John Beilein, Michigan advanced to the NCAA tournament each year except 2015, won Big Ten Conference regular season championships in 2012 and 2014 and appeared in the Elite 8 in 2014 and the National Championship in 2013.

Playing career

Jordan played for Butler from 1998 to 2001. He helped lead the team to three Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now Horizon League) tournament titles and two regular-season championships while also playing in four consecutive postseason tournaments — three NCAA (1998, 2000, and 2001) and one NIT (1999). Butler also won its first NCAA Tournament game in 39 years with a 79–63 win over Wake Forest in 2001.[2][3] He was a two-time All-Conference player and the 2001 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament MVP.[4]

Jordan played professional basketball in Europe for one year after graduating. He was the first Butler player to participate in the NBA Development League, playing for the Huntsville Flight.[2]

Coaching career

Assistant at Butler and Iowa

Jordan spent four years (2003–07) on Todd Lickliter's staff at Butler before following him to Iowa for three additional seasons (2007–2010).[2]

Assistant at Michigan

Jordan (fourth from left) with the national runner-up 2012–13 Michigan Wolverines

Under coach John Beilein at Michigan, Jordan's focus was on recruiting and developing back court players along with defensive strategies, scouting, and on-court coaching.[2] Jordan is often given credit in greatly aiding in the development of Michigan's guards, especially point guards. During the time he spent there, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Darius Morris all played under Jordan.[5][6] As a member of the coaching staff, Jordan helped Michigan to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Elite Eight and one to the National Championship Game in 2013.[7]

Head coach at UW-Milwaukee

On April 7, 2016, Milwaukee hired Jordan to replace Rob Jeter.[3][8] In his first year as a head coach with the 2016–17 Milwaukee Panthers, the team finished with an 11–24 record, but it made an improbable run in the 2017 Horizon League men's basketball tournament, becoming the first 10th-seeded team to win a Horizon League tournament game, and going on to reach the championship game against Northern Kentucky. Had they won, they would have set a record for the team with the most losses reaching the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.[9][10]

Head coach at Butler

On June 12, 2017, Butler hired Jordan to replace Chris Holtmann.[1] Butler's athletic director Barry Collier had recruited Jordan as a player and coached him for three seasons.[4] In his first season as head coach, he led the unranked Bulldogs to a stunning 101–93 upset of No. 1 Villanova in Hinkle Fieldhouse, marking Butler's third straight win over the Wildcats.

On April 1, 2022, Butler announced that they had parted ways with Jordan.

Personal life

Jordan is married to Destinee Jordan and they have three daughters together.[11] Jordan is a Christian.[12][13]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Milwaukee Panthers (Horizon League) (2016–2017)
2016–17 Milwaukee 11–24 4–14 10th
Milwaukee: 11–24 (.314) 4–14 (.222)
Butler Bulldogs (Big East Conference) (2017–2022)
2017–18 Butler 21–14 9–9 T–6th NCAA Division I Round of 32
2018–19 Butler 16–17 7–11 T–8th NIT First Round
2019–20 Butler 22–9 10–8 5th
2020–21 Butler 10–15 8–12 10th
2021–22 Butler 14–19 6–14 T–9th
Butler: 83–74 (.529) 40–54 (.426)
Total: 94–98 (.490)

References

  1. ^ a b "@ButlerMBB Tabs LaVall Jordan as Head Coach". Butler University. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "UWM hires Michigan assistant LaVall Jordan as men's basketball coach". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Milwaukee Hires LaVall Jordan as Men's Basketball Head Coach | Horizon League". www.horizonleague.org. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "New Butler coach LaVall Jordan aims to keep legacy intact". ESPN. Associated Press. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  5. ^ "6 things to know about Butler coach LaVall Jordan". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Jennings: Michigan's Jordan has way with guards". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Milwaukee hires Michigan assistant LaVall Jordan as coach". NCAA Men's Basketball. April 7, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  8. ^ "UWM hires Michigan assistant LaVall Jordan to replace Rob Jeter". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "No. 10 Milwaukee tops No. 6 UIC in semifinals". HorizonLeague.org. March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  10. ^ "N. Kentucky beats Milwaukee; secures NCAA bid in first year of eligibility". ESPN. Associated Press. March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  11. ^ Magner, Howie. "Family Provides Focus for New UWM Basketball Coach". Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Doering, Joshua. "Butler coach LaVall Jordan leans on Christ while leading No. 11 Bulldogs to strong start". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  13. ^ "LaVall Jordan". Twitter. Retrieved January 5, 2020.

External links

Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball head coaches
Butler Bulldogs men's basketball head coaches
Categories