It’s been a busy few months for new Fort Lewis men’s basketball coach Jordan Mast. In addition to putting together an almost entirely new roster, Mast has been working to fill out his coaching staff to have the Skyhawks ready to compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Mast has filled out his staff. After the announcement of James Jansen as associate head coach, FLC announced Bryant Knigge was hired to be an assistant coach on Mast’s staff on June 6.
Knigge, 29, was previously an assistant coach at NAIA Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska. Last year at Hastings, Knigge helped lead the Broncos to a 23-9 overall record and a 15-5 mark in Great Plains Athletic Conference play. Hastings had its first share of a regular season championship in 33 years and captured the GPAC Tournament for the first time in program history.
“He stood out in the interview process with a few things,” Mast said about Knigge. “Number one, he was a head coach at the high school level here in Colorado. He has a very deep connection to Colorado high school basketball and he knows a lot of the coaches and programs. Somebody who has more experience recruiting the state was a big draw for us.”
Knigge was praised by Mast for his use of analytics, something Mast and Jansen don’t rely on. Mast wants a staff with each member having different strengths. Knigge uses analytics in his scouting reports and his explanation to players on why the Skyhawks will run certain sets on offense.
Mast has also brought former Skyhawks great Joshua Blaylock in as a volunteer assistant coach. Blaylock was the RMAC Player of the Year in 2016-2017 after he averaged 20.8 points per game, 2.6 assists per game and 3.1 rebounds per game.
“I've known Josh a long time,” Mast said. “He actually was living in Palmdale when I was coaching University of Antelope Valley. We played and worked out in the summer together and I was just blown away with how talented he was... Long story short, I got the job here and I found out that Josh was still in town... and I thought, man, if there's a way that I can have him in the program, I better make it happen.”
Blaylock lives in Durango and Mast loves Blaylock’s experience playing at the Division II level in the RMAC and his success as RMAC Player of the Year and as an RMAC champion.
Along with Blaylock, new volunteer assistant coach Tyler Chisholm will work on skill and player development.
Chisholm played for Mast at University of Antelope Valley and despite being told by Mast that there wasn’t a lot of playing time available, Mast was impressed by Chisholm’s willingness to be a team-first guy. Chisholm was given an opportunity last year to help coach at Antelope Valley and he did a fantastic job, according to Mast. Although he’s a volunteer assistant coach, Mast thinks Chisholm can contribute to a winning culture right away.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
