CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State head men's basketball coach
Justin Barkley has announced the promotion of
Jimmy Boone to associate head coach.
Boone joined the men's basketball program as an assistant coach in April 2023.
"Jimmy has played a pivotal role as we've continued to build Rogers State basketball over the years," Barkley stated. "His understanding over the past two seasons with recruiting, developing players and building relationships with our student athletes has been a big help for us here at RSU. Jimmy has also been tremendous in locking down top targets before helping them reach their full potential on the court, in the classroom and in the community. He has exceeded all of my expectations, and this promotion is well earned as we continue to take the steps we need for Rogers State basketball."
During his two years with the Hillcats as an assistant, Boone has helped guide the team to 40 wins and secure consecutive appearances in the MIAA Tournament, including a semifinal run last season in Kansas City. Additionally, he has played a key role in developing six All-MIAA performers:
Anthony Marshall Jr. (First Team),
Rodney Battle (Third Team),
Kofi Hamilton (Honorable Mention),
Issac Johnson (Honorable Mention),
Caden Fry (Honorable Mention) and
Andrew Mason (Honorable Mention).
"I can't express enough how blessed I am to be a Hillcat," Boone said. "Rogers State University is truly a special place, and the program that Coach Barkley has built here is nothing short of amazing. Learning from Coach on a daily basis has been a tremendous experience. I am excited to continue this journey and help elevate the program even further!"
Before his time in Claremore, Boone was an assistant coach at Arkansas-Fort Smith for four years, where he assisted eight players in earning All-Lone Star Conference honors. He also recruited and coached the league's leading scorer and the recipient of the 2020 LSC Newcomer of the Year award.
Boone devoted seven years to Delta State as an assistant, contributing to a successful era that included three NCAA Tournament appearances. Highlights of his time there include a Sweet 16 run in 2013, a Gulf South Conference regular season title in 2014 and a GSC Tournament Championship in 2019. He notably coached two-time NABC All-American Devin Schmidt, who is Delta State's and the Gulf South Conference's all-time leading scorer (2,594 points), as well as NABC All-American Willie Readus.
Additionally, he coached at West Virginia Wesleyan during the 2010-11 season, helping the Bobcats achieve their first NCAA Tournament victory.
Boone had a remarkable four-year playing career at Tusculum College, logging 3,100 minutes across 114 games. At guard, he scored a total of 831 points, including 162 three-pointers, which places him sixth in the school's all-time rankings. In his junior year, he was a pivotal player in leading the Pioneers to the NCAA Tournament and concluded his career as the program's all-time leader in NCAA Division II wins. He also served as a student assistant coach for one season.
Boone holds a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Thomas Edison State University.
He and his wife, Kiara, have a daughter, Charlee Mae.
