Northwest Notes April 19, 2023
Barsh joins Gonzaga men’s basketball staff
SPOKANE — Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford and men's basketball coach Mark Few officially announced the hiring of R-Jay Barsh, as an assistant coach on the Zags' coaching staff.
Barsh was most recently an assistant coach under Leonard Hamilton at Florida State. Barsh is a veteran with more than 15 years of coaching experience.
“R-Jay is another great addition to the program,” Few said. “He’s a real positive upbeat man of faith. He has a lot of experience all over the country and has been a head coach. He’s from the northwest, worked in the northwest, and has worked at the highest level of college basketball. He’s going to be great for our program.”
Prior to his one season at Florida State in 2022-23, Barsh was an assistant coach under Leon Rice at Boise State for three seasons where he helped lead the Broncos to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
“I believe it's important to have mentors in your life and I am thankful for Carl Howell, Leon Rice, Leonard Hamilton and Fred Crowell; these four men have been integral parts of my coaching and life journey,” Barsh said. “They have all prepared me for the unique and special opportunity I'm walking into.”
Prior to his tenure at Boise State, Barsh spent the previous seven seasons as the head coach at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. While with SEU, he led the Fire to three NAIA Division II national tournament appearances, the first for the program in school history. In his second season, SEU went 27-7 and reached the NAIA Fab Four during its first postseason tournament run, ultimately earning Barsh a nod as a finalist for the Don Meyer National Coach of the Year Award. Barsh also led the Fire to tournament appearances following the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Barsh helped lead Tacoma Community College to three Western Region titles in four seasons and an NWAACC championship in 2012. The Titans also made the Elite 8 in the NWAACC Tournament in 2009. Prior to TCC, he spent one season at Lincoln High in Tacoma, where he helped guide the school to the state’s Final Four and a record of 26-5.
Barsh also served as an assistant coach at the University of Puget Sound, his alma mater, from 2005-07. In his first season with the Loggers, the program finished with a 26-5 mark and a NCAA D-III Elite Eight appearance.
Barsh played collegiately for TCC from 2001-03, where he helped lead the Titans to a record of 30-3 and an NWAACC title (2001-02). He was an all-conference honoree the following season.
WSU adds basketball transfer Wells
PULLMAN — Jaylen Wells, a transfer from Sonoma State, will play basketball at Washington State next season, Cougar coach Kyle announced, Tuesday.
Wells, a Division II All-American, was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, leading the league in scoring and tied for first in rebounds.
Wells, a 6-7 small forward, led the league in scoring with 22.1 points per game and tied for first in rebounding with 8.7 boards per contest. The sophomore from Sacramento shot .523 percent from the field (fourth CCAA) and .858 percent from the free throw line (second CCAA).
“As a basketball player, Jaylen is a ‘6-tool guy,’” Smith said. “He can play multiple positions. He can dribble, pass, drive, shoot, defend, and rebound. He’s a late bloomer that has a big upside. We’re really excited to have him at WSU.”
Wells recorded 10 double-doubles, scoring at least 13 points in every game. He topped the 30-point plateau seven times, including a season-best 38 points against CCAA champion Cal State San Bernardino. His efforts helped Sonoma State go from the team picked last in the preseason coaches’ poll to earning its first berth in the CCAA Tournament since 2017.