Pearson a finalist for JSU head coaching job

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama assistant men’s basketball coach Philip Pearson is one of four finalists for the vacant head coaching position at Jacksonville State University, a release from JSU said today.

Also named as finalists were Hoover High boys head coach Charles Burkett, Mississippi Valley State University head coach (and former UA assistant) James Green and University of Massachusetts associate head coach Timothy Maloney.

The four finalists will be invited to interview on campus next week.

Jacksonville State terminated head men’s basketball coach Mike LaPlante’s contract in early March, ending the coach’s eight-year tenure with the school.

LaPlante finished his eight-year reign as head coach with a 95-137 career record and was 57-93 in conference games, but was just 22-84 in road games during his tenure.

“Our men’s team is just not where it needs to be to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference,” JSU athletics director Jim Fuller said after the firing. “We need to move forward in our men’s basketball program and we will begin a national search immediately to find the best fit for our program.”