Jason Laatsch enters his third season as the Lee men's basketball assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Said head coach Bubba Smith, "Coach Laatsch is a seasoned veteran, between playing and coaching in the GSC. He heads our recruiting efforts and engages in every facet of the program, game and practice preparation, scouting, academic oversight, and player development."
“He has a great feel for what we value and what it takes to be successful in Division II basketball and the GSC. He also has a genuine care and concern for the spiritual and personal development of our student-athletes. We are thrilled he is returning for the 24-25 Season.”
Before coming to Cleveland, Laatsch was on Coach Lennie Acuff's staff at Lipscomb University as Director of Basketball Operations. He spent two seasons on staff overseeing daily operations. As well as the coordination, management, and video analysis of practice, opponents, and game film for development and scouting purposes.
Prior to Lipscomb, Laatsch was in Pulaski, Tenn. He spent one year at Martin Methodist College serving as the assistant coach in 2019-20. He coached SSAC Freshman of the year Adarion Hudson and helped recruit future SSAC All-Conference standout Tad Sivley.
He spent the previous seven years at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida. Laatsch, a Birmingham, Alabama, native, began his coaching career at UWF on the heels of one of the great playing careers in program history.
During his five years as a player, Laatsch finished his career with a program-best 146 three-pointers. His name is etched elsewhere in the UWF record books as well, with Laatsch standing eighth with 238 career assists, ninth with 879 career points, and 11th in three-point percentage at 35.5 percent.
As a graduate assistant, Laatsch helped coach UWF to its first-ever Gulf South Conference tournament title (2018) as well as the program's first-ever NCAA tournament bid (2018). The Argonauts posted 40 wins in the two seasons Laatsch spent with the program, and Laatsch helped recruit and sign Jon Brown, the 2019 Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year.
Laatsch is the son of Alabama high school coaching legend, Chris Laatsch. Jason played for his dad for four years at Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama. Laatsch, a 2012 graduate of BCS, remains atop the BCS all-time scoring and three-point shooting records.
Laatsch holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from West Florida, graduating with a sport management degree in 2016 and a physical education degree in the spring of 2019.
Jason and his wife Lydia and daughter Avery reside in Cleveland.
