WATCH: Chris Jans explains decision to take Mississippi State job

Mississippi State moved on a new hire quickly after parting ways with former head men’s basketball coach Ben Howland last week. The Bulldogs brass opted to hire New Mexico State head coach Chris Jans to be the next head coach.

The up-and-coming coach discussed his decision to leave his tournament team to join Mississippi State on Sunday.

“It’s been fast and furious,” Jans said about the last few days. “What I’ve learned in this business is that there’s rarely good timing. It is what it is and it can be a tough business at times. It’s been a bitter-sweet day for me and my family. We love it here. People have been so kind to us and so welcoming, they’ve treated us so well. I’m excited about a new adventure, a new challenge, but it’s going to be tough because this place means so much to us.

“At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity professionally to compete against the best,” Jans continued. “When I first started this journey, that certainly was the goal. You never know if you’re going to make it to that level. It’s a bigger stage, a bigger platform, competing against the best players and coaches. It’s going to be a big challenge for us but that was the biggest factor. It was a culmination of what we’ve done here at New Mexico State.”

Part 1: Chris Jans talks making the move to Mississippi State pic.twitter.com/luMzbCFjBe

— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) March 20, 2022

Jans leaves New Mexico State after four seasons

The Aggies were bounced from the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon by Arkansas 53-48. Despite not making a Sweet 16 berth, Jans led New Mexico State to an upset of UConn in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64 last week. It was the school’s first NCAA tournament win since 1970.

Jans went 122-32 in five seasons at New Mexico State, which includes four regular-season WAC championships and three NCAA tournament appearances. He replaces Ben Howland who, in seven seasons in Starkville, failed to win an NCAA Tournament game, compiling a 134-98 overall record.

Overall, Jans has gone 143-44 (77 percent) over five years as a head coach, including four seasons at New Mexico State and one at Bowling Green. His winning percentage ranks top five in all active head coaches.

On top of that, Jans has won four conference championships thanks to building his roster up with transfers and junior college players. He was in contention for other Power Five coaching jobs as well, namely Kansas State following the Aggies’ NCAA Tournament berth. Ultimately, Jans landed in Mississippi State, which is coming off an 18-16 season that saw its season come to an end at the hands of Virginia in the NIT’s first round.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.