Tom Jessee named head men¡¯s basketball coach

Tom Jessee, a 1991 Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø graduate and long-time assistant coach, was named the 17th head basketball coach in the 120-year history of the Viking men's program on April 19.

Jessee succeeds Steve Schafer, who resigned after one season to pursue a private business opportunity.

Jessee joined Coach Steve Yount's staff as a part-time assistant for the 1993-94 season and became full-time in 1997. When Grey Giovanine took over the program in 1999, he made the wise decision to retain Jessee.

"Tom Jessee has played an integral role in the success of the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø men's basketball program for nearly 30 years. He has earned this well-deserved promotion," said Mike Zapolski, director of athletics.

"Tom is an outstanding recruiter who has been tremendously loyal to his alma mater. He has worked diligently to build an extensive network of relationships with AAU and high school coaches in our traditional recruiting areas plus other geographic territories. I look forward to working closely with Tom and his staff to put Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø basketball in the best position possible to continue its outstanding run of success in the nation's strongest NCAA Division III conference."

In Jessee's 28 years on the Viking bench, Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø has gone 528-216 ¡ª a winning percentage of .710 ¡ª won 10 Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championships and six CCIW Tournament titles and made 10 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, including national runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2017.

"It is an absolute honor and privilege to be named the next head basketball coach at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø," said Jessee. "I want to thank President Steve Bahls, Vice President Wes Brooks and Director of Athletics Mike Zapolski for giving me the opportunity to lead our men's basketball program."

Before returning to his alma mater, Jessee spent a year as an assistant coach at Rosary Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø (now Dominican University) in River Forest, Ill.

A native of Lake Zurich, Ill., and a 1987 graduate of Lake Zurich High School, Jessee was a senior on Yount's first Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø squad and was instrumental in the Vikings posting a 19-7 record. A four-year basketball letter winner, he has degrees in biology and secondary education from Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, as well as his master's in physical education from Western Illinois University.

Tom and his wife Bonnie have three sons, Ryan, Billy and Drew, and reside in Moline, Ill. He currently serves as the director of the Roy J. Carver Physical Education Center.