Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Florida Tech on October 30, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Men's Basketball
vs. Florida Tech
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Men's Basketball
Jakus, John
John Jakus
- Title:
- Head Coach
John Jakus was named men's basketball head coach in March 2024.
One of the most highly-regarded assistant coaches in the nation, Jakus has spent his entire collegiate coaching career under two of the game’s most successful head coach in Baylor’s Scott Drew and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.
2025-26 ROSTER BUILDING
“When we began this search, we spoke to coaches, athletic directors, administrators, scouts, and agents, and the name that kept coming up with glowing reviews was John Jakus,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White. “He checks so many boxes in what we’re looking for to enhance and build on the momentum in our program. His pedigree, learning from two of the greatest coaches in the game today, is unmatched. John is a tireless worker who cares deeply for his players and has an innate understanding of the current landscape in college athletics. He is a winner and is passionate about doing it the right way. I’m so thrilled, on behalf of President Stacy Volnick and our Board of Trustees, to welcome John, his wife Sara, and their children Brady, Cal, and Harper to the FAU family.”
On Drew’s staff for a total of nine seasons, and the associate head coach at Baylor since 2022, Jakus has helped lead the Bears’ national resurgence. Highlighted by the program’s 2021 National Championship title, Baylor has compiled a 217-86 overall record, a 100-58 mark in Big 12 Conference play, six NCAA Tournament appearances and two Sweet 16 appearances with Jakus on staff.
The team’s back-to-back Big 12 titles in 2021 and 2022 were the program’s first conference crowns since 1950 as Baylor became just the third conference team in history to repeat as champions. Both seasons resulted in a No. 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament for Baylor.
“We are thrilled to welcome John and his family to the Florida Atlantic family,” said President Stacy Volnick. “This is a tremendous time for the men’s basketball team and I have every confidence John will continue this program’s phenomenal trajectory.”
A coach with strong international ties, the 48-year-old Jakus gained extensive experience as a professional coach in Europe prior to joining the Baylor staff in 2012. He was head coach and assistant general manager of ABA Strumica in Macedonia (2010-11) and also worked with Athletes in Action as volunteer head coach for both NCAA and professional basketball trips and as international basketball head coach and director from 2005 to 2014.
He spent three seasons with Gonzaga as director of operations (2014-17) before being hired by Drew again in 2017 as an assistant coach at Baylor.
“This is such a special moment for me, my wife Sara, and my children Brady, Cal, and Harper,” said Jakus. “I’m both honored and humbled to be the head coach at Florida Atlantic University. I want to extend my sincere thanks to President Stacy Volnick, Director of Athletics Brian White and the Board of Trustees for their belief in me and my vision for the future of the Owls. This program has been in such great hands, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Dusty May, his staff, and the players have accomplished. FAU has been one of the best teams in the nation the last two years and I am so fortunate to carry on that tradition.”
Baylor’s recent pedigree of championship success has also produced some of the game’s top players. Entering 2023-24, with Jakus’ assistance, Baylor has had guards win All-America honors in four straight seasons (Jared Butler in 2020 and 2021, Davion Mitchell in 2021, MaCio Teague in 2021, James Akinjo in 2022 and Adam Flagler in 2023).
Butler became the first consensus first-team All-American in program history and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Mitchell swept the National Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Additionally, since his arrival at Baylor, the Bears have had five selections in the NBA Draft including three straight lottery picks (Davion Mitchell —9th in 2021, Jeremy Sochan —9th in 2022 and Keyonte George — 16th in 2023). The Bears are the only program with three players picked in the top 16 over the last three seasons. BU’s 11 selections since 2012 are the 10th most nationally during that span.
With Jakus on staff, Baylor has consistently been among the nation’s best offensive teams. Baylor and Gonzaga are the only two teams nationally to rank in the top five in three of the last four years. Baylor and Gonzaga are the only two with a top-10 offense in four straight years, entering 2023-24.
An accomplished recruiter, Jakus has helped Baylor land two top-five classes (three top-15 classes) over the last four seasons. Baylor and Duke are the only two programs that have top-five recruiting classes in both 2023 and 2024. That span has included four McDonald’s All-Americans on the Waco campus, including VJ Edgecomb, Ja’Kobe Walter, Keyonte George and Kendall Brown.
He has also helped Baylor land some of top names from the portal with the addition of eight Division I transfers in the last four years, highlighted by Pac 12 first-team selection James Akinjop from Arizona, MaCio Teague from UNC Asheville, Adam Flagler from Presbyterian and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who transferred from UNLV to Baylor and was the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
A Chicago native, Jakus graduated from Trinity International University with a Bachelor of Science in religious studies in 1999. He earned a master’s degree in sport management from Baylor in 2014. Jakus and his wife, Sara, have three children -- sons Brady and Cal and daughter Harper.
Media Releases:
Palm Beach Post: Click here
Associated Press: Click here
WPTV: Click here
CBS 12: Click here
ABC 25: Click here
What They're Saying About John Jakus
“We can’t thank John enough for the tremendous contributions he has made to Baylor basketball over his nine years with our program. He has had a big hand in helping us reach unprecedented heights over the last decade, and has first-hand experience winning at the highest levels of this game. Not only does he bring an extensive knowledge of the game from an X’s and O’s standpoint, but he’s also a man of extremely high character, which will serve him well as he begins his head coaching career. He will be able to develop players on the basketball court that will play hard every night, while also setting a standard and helping them grow as young men. We are thrilled for John and his family and know the Florida Atlantic fan base will take pride and enjoy watching his teams compete every night.”
- Baylor Head Coach, Scott Drew
"John Jakus is a well rounded coach and a great family man. His faith and character drive his decision making and leadership. You won't find a better coach who studies trends of the game, builds a system and develops his players on and off the court."
- Head Coach Boston Celtics, Joe Mazzulla
“I’m excited for John, Sara and their family on earning this well-deserved opportunity at FAU. John is one of the best teachers of the game l’ve even been around. He can take very complex concepts and explain with simplicity. Players will love playing for him and their knowledge of the game will grow exponentially. What makes him even more special is that he is an even better person.”
- Kansas State Head Coach, Jerome Tang
One of the most highly-regarded assistant coaches in the nation, Jakus has spent his entire collegiate coaching career under two of the game’s most successful head coach in Baylor’s Scott Drew and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.
2025-26 ROSTER BUILDING
“When we began this search, we spoke to coaches, athletic directors, administrators, scouts, and agents, and the name that kept coming up with glowing reviews was John Jakus,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White. “He checks so many boxes in what we’re looking for to enhance and build on the momentum in our program. His pedigree, learning from two of the greatest coaches in the game today, is unmatched. John is a tireless worker who cares deeply for his players and has an innate understanding of the current landscape in college athletics. He is a winner and is passionate about doing it the right way. I’m so thrilled, on behalf of President Stacy Volnick and our Board of Trustees, to welcome John, his wife Sara, and their children Brady, Cal, and Harper to the FAU family.”
On Drew’s staff for a total of nine seasons, and the associate head coach at Baylor since 2022, Jakus has helped lead the Bears’ national resurgence. Highlighted by the program’s 2021 National Championship title, Baylor has compiled a 217-86 overall record, a 100-58 mark in Big 12 Conference play, six NCAA Tournament appearances and two Sweet 16 appearances with Jakus on staff.
The team’s back-to-back Big 12 titles in 2021 and 2022 were the program’s first conference crowns since 1950 as Baylor became just the third conference team in history to repeat as champions. Both seasons resulted in a No. 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament for Baylor.
“We are thrilled to welcome John and his family to the Florida Atlantic family,” said President Stacy Volnick. “This is a tremendous time for the men’s basketball team and I have every confidence John will continue this program’s phenomenal trajectory.”
A coach with strong international ties, the 48-year-old Jakus gained extensive experience as a professional coach in Europe prior to joining the Baylor staff in 2012. He was head coach and assistant general manager of ABA Strumica in Macedonia (2010-11) and also worked with Athletes in Action as volunteer head coach for both NCAA and professional basketball trips and as international basketball head coach and director from 2005 to 2014.
He spent three seasons with Gonzaga as director of operations (2014-17) before being hired by Drew again in 2017 as an assistant coach at Baylor.
“This is such a special moment for me, my wife Sara, and my children Brady, Cal, and Harper,” said Jakus. “I’m both honored and humbled to be the head coach at Florida Atlantic University. I want to extend my sincere thanks to President Stacy Volnick, Director of Athletics Brian White and the Board of Trustees for their belief in me and my vision for the future of the Owls. This program has been in such great hands, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Dusty May, his staff, and the players have accomplished. FAU has been one of the best teams in the nation the last two years and I am so fortunate to carry on that tradition.”
Baylor’s recent pedigree of championship success has also produced some of the game’s top players. Entering 2023-24, with Jakus’ assistance, Baylor has had guards win All-America honors in four straight seasons (Jared Butler in 2020 and 2021, Davion Mitchell in 2021, MaCio Teague in 2021, James Akinjo in 2022 and Adam Flagler in 2023).
Butler became the first consensus first-team All-American in program history and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Mitchell swept the National Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Additionally, since his arrival at Baylor, the Bears have had five selections in the NBA Draft including three straight lottery picks (Davion Mitchell —9th in 2021, Jeremy Sochan —9th in 2022 and Keyonte George — 16th in 2023). The Bears are the only program with three players picked in the top 16 over the last three seasons. BU’s 11 selections since 2012 are the 10th most nationally during that span.
With Jakus on staff, Baylor has consistently been among the nation’s best offensive teams. Baylor and Gonzaga are the only two teams nationally to rank in the top five in three of the last four years. Baylor and Gonzaga are the only two with a top-10 offense in four straight years, entering 2023-24.
An accomplished recruiter, Jakus has helped Baylor land two top-five classes (three top-15 classes) over the last four seasons. Baylor and Duke are the only two programs that have top-five recruiting classes in both 2023 and 2024. That span has included four McDonald’s All-Americans on the Waco campus, including VJ Edgecomb, Ja’Kobe Walter, Keyonte George and Kendall Brown.
He has also helped Baylor land some of top names from the portal with the addition of eight Division I transfers in the last four years, highlighted by Pac 12 first-team selection James Akinjop from Arizona, MaCio Teague from UNC Asheville, Adam Flagler from Presbyterian and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who transferred from UNLV to Baylor and was the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
A Chicago native, Jakus graduated from Trinity International University with a Bachelor of Science in religious studies in 1999. He earned a master’s degree in sport management from Baylor in 2014. Jakus and his wife, Sara, have three children -- sons Brady and Cal and daughter Harper.
Media Releases:
Palm Beach Post: Click here
Associated Press: Click here
WPTV: Click here
CBS 12: Click here
ABC 25: Click here
What They're Saying About John Jakus
“We can’t thank John enough for the tremendous contributions he has made to Baylor basketball over his nine years with our program. He has had a big hand in helping us reach unprecedented heights over the last decade, and has first-hand experience winning at the highest levels of this game. Not only does he bring an extensive knowledge of the game from an X’s and O’s standpoint, but he’s also a man of extremely high character, which will serve him well as he begins his head coaching career. He will be able to develop players on the basketball court that will play hard every night, while also setting a standard and helping them grow as young men. We are thrilled for John and his family and know the Florida Atlantic fan base will take pride and enjoy watching his teams compete every night.”
- Baylor Head Coach, Scott Drew
"John Jakus is a well rounded coach and a great family man. His faith and character drive his decision making and leadership. You won't find a better coach who studies trends of the game, builds a system and develops his players on and off the court."
- Head Coach Boston Celtics, Joe Mazzulla
“I’m excited for John, Sara and their family on earning this well-deserved opportunity at FAU. John is one of the best teachers of the game l’ve even been around. He can take very complex concepts and explain with simplicity. Players will love playing for him and their knowledge of the game will grow exponentially. What makes him even more special is that he is an even better person.”
- Kansas State Head Coach, Jerome Tang
"Best thing I can say about the FAU Basketball hire is that if you could combine Baylor head coach Scott Drew & Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. You would get John Jakus."
- ESPN, Fran Fraschilla
"I could not be happier for Coach Jakus. Florida Atlantic has hired a great coach and a great man. He was a huge part of our rise to success and instrumental to our first Final Four. I'm excited for this opportunity for John and his family."
- Gonzaga Head Coach, Mark Few
John Jakus Collegiate Coaching Career File
| Year | School | Title | Overall | Conference (Finish) | Postseason |
| 2012-13 | Baylor | Graduate Assistant Coach | 23-14 | 9-9 (t-4th) | NIT Champion |
| 2013-14 | Baylor | Graduate Assistant Coach | 26-12 | 9-9 (t-6th) | NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 |
| 2014-15 | Gonzaga | Director of Operations | 35-3 | 17-1 (1st) | NCAA Tournament Elite Eight |
| 2015-16 | Gonzaga | Director of Operations | 28-8 | 15-3 (t-1st) | NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 |
| 2016-17 | Gonzaga | Director of Operations | 37-2 | 17-1 (1st) | NCAA Tournament Runner-up |
| 2017-18 | Baylor | Assistant Coach | 19-15 | 8-10 (t-6th) | NIT Second Round |
| 2018-19 | Baylor | Assistant Coach | 20-14 | 10-8 (4th) | NCAA Tournament 2nd Round |
| 2019-20 | Baylor | Assistant Coach | 26-4 | 15-3 (2nd) | Postseason canceled (COVID) |
| 2020-21 | Baylor | Assistant Coach | 28-2 | 13-1 (1st) | NCAA Tournament Champion |
| 2021-22 | Baylor | Assistant Coach | 27-7 | 14-4 (t-1st) | NCAA Tournament 2nd Round |
| 2022-23 | Baylor | Associate Head Coach | 23-11 | 11-7 (t-3rd) | NCAA Tournament 2nd Round |
| 2023-24 | Baylor | Associate Head Coach | 24-11 | 11-7 (t-3rd) | NCAA Tournament 2nd Round |
| 2024-25 | FAU | Head Coach | 18-16 | 10-8 (t-5th) | NIT First Round |
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #5
Friday, September 12
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #4
Thursday, September 04
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #3
Friday, August 29
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #2
Friday, August 22
