By Jordan Taylor, Sports731 Reporter
Jackson State Community College (JSCC) has announced the hiring of Cameron Cates as the new head coach for the men’s basketball team. Cates, a former player and graduate assistant at JSCC, brings a wealth of experience and a strong passion for coaching to the program.
Cates’ ties to JSCC began during his senior year of high school when he was searching for a college basketball team to join. He joined JSCC as a preferred walk-on and spent two years playing and studying at the college. As he contemplated his next steps, Cates realized his lifelong dream of becoming a coach and decided to join the JSCC Men’s Basketball coaching staff as a graduate assistant.
After completing his bachelor’s degree online at Tennessee-Martin, Cates sought opportunities to further his coaching career. He sent emails to various schools and coaches, eventually landing a position as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Newman University in Kansas. Cates then moved on to Pratt Community College for a year and later Western Texas College, where he spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team.
When Cates learned that the head coaching position at JSCC was opening up, he knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. With his experience and familiarity with the program, Cates was hired in July and wasted no time on getting to work. Upon his arrival, there were no players on the men’s basketball roster, but Cates quickly convinced three players to return and began recruiting new talent.
With an open workout attracting over 25 potential players, Cates was able to evaluate and select 11 players to join the three returning players for the upcoming season. He expressed confidence in his team, highlighting their strong guard play and size. Cates emphasized the importance of a strong defensive foundation and a fast-paced playing style.
Having played in the conference himself, Cates is well aware of the tough competition his team will face. He acknowledged the consistency and dedication required to be successful in the conference and aims to turn the program around, leading JSCC to new heights.
Workouts are set to begin next week, with official practice starting on October 1st. The highly anticipated 2023-2024 season will tip-off on November 2nd. Under Coach Cates’ leadership, JSCC fans can expect an exciting and promising season ahead as the team strives to make their mark in the conference.
