Wayne Jessen has been named the next boys’ basketball coach at Houston.
Just two weeks after former coach Aaron Griffin resigned, Jessen was hired this week as the Tigers’ new coach.
Jessen will return to the sidelines after one year away from the sport. He spent the 2005-’06 season at Fordland after 11 years as the head basketball coach and athletic director at Conway.
Jessen, who graduated from Southwest Missouri State in 1988 and has a Master’s degree from William Woods, coached junior high and JV basketbal at Hartville for four years in the early 1990s. He became Conway’s head coach in 1994.
Houston’s job became available June 20 when Griffin surprisingly resigned after two years with the Tigers. Griffin, who paid a $500 penalty to be released from his contract, accepted an assistant coaching position at Springfield Glendale and will teach physical education at a nearby elementary school.
Houston hasn’t won a conference title since 1989. The last district championship for the Tigers came in 1984.
The Tigers were a combined 14-35 under Griffin, including a 6-18 mark this past season. Houston is eligible to return three starters, including leading scorer Michael Buckner and point guard Ryan O’Neil.