Jeff Klein - Head Coach, Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Head Coach Jeff Klein is beginning his 20th season at Chaffey College and 36th overall in coaching.  In his nearly two decades with the Panthers he has racked up 436 wins, 17 playoff appearances, and has been responsible for transferring out over 100 student-athletes to schools in the US and Canada, as well as numerous professional basketball leagues worldwide.

Klein is a native of Long Island, New York where he was a three sport athlete (football, basketball, track & field) at Lawrence High School.  "Coach Fred Seger (University of Nebraska Hall of Fame - two sports) taught me discipline, instilled toughness and demanded excellence.  There were no excuses and no shortcuts." Another influential coach in Klein's professional career was Vance Walberg (Clovis West HS, Fresno City College, Pepperdine, Philadephia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings).  Vance taught Klein the original components of "The System" (AASAA aka The Dribble Drive Motion Offense). 

Klein's high school coaches were the people he most looked up to and their career path is what he modeled his own on.  After high school, Coach Klein attended Frostburg State University (MD) where he played one year of football for the Bobcats before transferring to SUNY Cortland.  At Cortland, Klein intended to play basketball and football, but injuries took Klein to the teaching/coaching route.  "At SUNY, I had the opportunity to work with the lacrosse team and found myself as the recruiting coordinator.  That was my first taste of coaching."  Klein's student-teaching experience at SUNY Cortland took him to the Onondaga Nation Reservation teaching K-12 and coached lacrosse.

Coaching to Klein is more than Xs and Os, he prides himself on the relationships he's been able to build with his student-athletes.  "I'm very involved in our players' lives.  I get to know each member of the team; who they are, their history," he added.  "Many of our players were not taught life skills.  I was lucky, I had a dad and coaches that taught me the value of accountability, communication skills, and time management."  Klein went on to recount the lessons he learned from his father, "He expected me to get up early, put in a hard day's work, dress appropriately, and be respectful.  He taught me things I took for granted that I try to give these young men, even something as simple as a firm handshake or tying a tie."

"Our coaching staff demands selflessness and that they build a strong connection with their teammates.  When a student-athlete feels connected, when there's an open line of communication, we can move forward towards a common goal."  Getting to know each player is imperative to Klein.  "I get below the surface.  We identify issues and mistakes in their past and we work together to create a game plan that benefits each student's short and long-term goals on and off the court.  I'm able to give each student-athlete my full-time attention.  It's a commitment that goes well beyond the two hour practice."  Klein was the first full-time professional expert basketball coach in the state.

Last season, the Panthers completed the inaugural IEAC season 16-0.  This was Klein's first undefeated conference season in his Chaffey history.  "It was a long conference season.  We had to maintain our focus over a two month period despite injuries and illnesses."  Klein's teams average 23 wins/year and the Panthers have made four trips to the state Final Four in the last 7 years and once vied for the CCCAA state championship.  "Sango Niang typified the 2013 team.  This was a team that really came together and fought their way all the way to the championship."  Seeded against the #1 team in the state, undefeated City College of San Francisco with future NBA player Durrel Wright, the Panthers battled to the very end with Niang making the winning jump shot with two seconds remaining in play.  "It was a tremendous win.  The excitement in the stands was unbelievable.  Here is this guy that played sparingly on his high school team and he just took us to the state championship game."  Niang went on to play NCAA basketball at Simon Frasier University (Canada) and has played international professional basketball worldwide including a current contract in Spain.

Alongside Coach Klein on the bench is Assistant Coach Prentice Harris.  "I've know Prentice since he was in 5th grade," Klein recounts.  "He came to Chaffey after a stellar career at Upland High School.  Prentice needed to refine his skills and improve academic deficiencies.  He left as a college starter and received his AA degree with honors," he said with obvious pride.  During his freshman year, Harris was honored by the California Community College Counselors/Advisors Academic Association for Athletics (3C4A) and has since been inducted into the Chaffey College Athletic Hall of Fame.  "Prentice is a model for what we do in the program," Klein continued.  "He worked so hard and he challenges our athletes to do the same.  He's been in their shoes."

Each year, Klein and staff recruit a group of young men - often high school grads that were overlooked at the high school level.  "Our system is based on the unique talents of each season's student-athletes. It's about skill development and improvement over the season."  That outlook has proven successful with standout athletes recruited locally such as Victor Joseph, Brian Beard, and Darren Williams.  Players that come to Chaffey can look forward to a caring and nurturing environment that is focused on their individual success, on the court and in the classroom.  Last year's team had a record nine scholar-athletes.

Looking forward, "We always strive to win our conference and advance to be state champions.  This year, we're thrilled and excited for the opportunity to play basketball in the spring and for college coaches to see our players' talent," said Klein.  An active guy, Klein has taken up a new hobby during the quarantine - bird watching.  "I sit on my back porch and just watch all these birds in my yard," said Klein.  "It's crazy, and loud."  Klein has visited numerous countries on four continents.  He recently traveled to Israel where he coached a gold medal team in the Maccabiah Games.

Klein is a fan of all team sports as well as MMA.  "In 1981, we didn't have lacrosse at Lawrence HS, which is weird because it's really big on Long Island and upstate New York.  If we had had it, that probably would have been my sport," he said.

"You come to Chaffey; it's a beautiful campus with excellent facilities.  We have coaches and staff that care about you.  You'll get a world-class education and the opportunity to continue to the four-year level on scholarship.  You can be proud to be a Panther.  We inspire our student-athletes to be great and see them through to graduation from Chaffey College, transfer and beyond."