Coach Jeff Klein of Chaffey College came on to discuss his program at Chaffey College. We also discussed the landscape of California Junior College Basketball and how he has adjusted his philosophy over the years.

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Coach Klein Bio:

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, Philadelphia 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."