Minot State University men's basketball coach Matt Murken announced the hirings of three assistant coaches on Wednesday.
Jack Nelson will be the Beavers' full-time assistant and Bobby Howard and Byron Jones will be graduate assistants. Murken was hired nearly one month ago to fill the vacancy left by Peter Stewart.
"I am very happy with the quality of the staff we have assembled," Murken said in a press release. "One common thread throughout our coaches is the expectation and habit of winning basketball games."
Nelson spent last season as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at Bellevue University (Bellevue, Neb.), an NAIA school. Bellevue finished 28-6 and won regular season and conference titles. Nelson earned a master's from Winona State in 2010 and played for Saint Mary's University (Minn.) before graduating in 2007.
"Coach Nelson brings a familiarity with the Northern Sun and a wealth of junior college and high school recruiting contacts," Murken said. "He is accustomed to being involved in winning programs, having coached in four straight postseason tournaments. He will be a great mentor and motivating force to the young men in our program."
Howard averaged 15 points and seven rebounds in his senior season with Montana State University before graduating in 2011. He has played professionally in Romania and spent two months in the NBA Developmental League.
Jones graduated from Jamestown College in the spring. He finished his career with 1,100 points and was an All-Dakota Athletic Conference player.
- Daily News Staff