ShawneeDispatch.com

From 1990 to 1992, Alonzo Jamison made his name at the University of Kansas as one of the school's greatest defenders and the centerpiece of a Jayhawk team that upset Indiana, Arkansas, and North Carolina en route to the national title game in 1991.

Jamison finished his career seventh on the Jayhawks all-time steals list (175) despite playing only two full seasons. He was a leader who elevated the play of his teammates and impacted every facet of the game when he stepped onto the floor.

Now, just more than a decade later, Jamison's impact is being felt once again -- only this time it is from the sidelines, where he has taken his basketball knowledge and applied it to the hardwood as an assistant coach at Mill Valley High School.

Hired just last summer, Jamison joined the Jaguars program with little coaching experience. But after his first full season, a unanimous verdict is in ±-- the one-time KU standout is one heck of a floor leader.

As the head coach of Mill Valley's junior varsity squad this season, Jamison guided the youthful Jaguars (8 sophomores) to the school's first undefeated season (19-0) and oversaw a team that broke 35 school records.

"This season was one for the ages," Jamison said. "It was beyond my expectations, and to this day, I am still shaking my head, because this is what I have been missing all these years that I haven't been coaching, and I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by such a fine group of kids my first time out."

Although Jamison enjoyed unbelievable success this year, he modestly attributes his achievements more to the quality of players he inherited and the coaches he was surrounded by, than any "Larry Brown-esque" coaching performance on his behalf.

"First of all, I accredit our success to the system (Mill Valley varsity) coach (Justin) Bogart has set in place here at Mill Valley, and the camaraderie that the kids on the team shared this season," Jamison said. "They did everything together, and liked to spend time with each other, so they were better equipped to overcome adversity because of the unity they sincerely shared as a team, and it showed when they stepped onto the court."

Jamison was also blown away with the character of his team and said he was extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to coach such an unselfish group of kids whose individual egos never collided with his coaching philosophy or the teams pursuits.

"I have coached in camps previously, but this is the first time I have coached in a season, and these guys spoiled me," Jamison said. "They blew my mind, and expelled a lot of negative aspects of coaching I had anticipated coming in. They did everything I asked of them, and from my past experiences, I can honestly say that I never thought that team-play could be executed to this degree at this level."

While Jamison still carries fond memories of his playing days in Lawrence as a Kansas Jayhawk, it will be a long time before he forgets his first year of coaching, and the members of the team that made his inaugural year so memorable.

"I have a feeling that in my coaching career, I might not have such a solid group of kids as I have enjoyed this season," Jamison said. "This was the type of team, that if I was a player again, I would like to play on, because they are all a pleasure to be around."

Next year, Jamison will continue to lend his wisdom to a new junior varsity team and as an assistant to Bogart, while the majority of this year's team will move up and take over for a varsity squad that lost several key starters to graduation.

As for the state of the Jaguars basketball program being in the hands of the very players he coached this year, Jamison offers one thought.

"The future will be bright for Mill Valley basketball," he said.

From the looks of it, the future of Jamison's coaching career will be bright, as well.