Jared Nuness
1997 Graduate
Jared Nuness knows that being a student athlete is about so much more than the sport you play. It was during his time playing basketball as a Royal where he learned about responsibility, integrity, and what it means to be a great man. He instills those same lessons in his own players as a coach at Baylor University.
Baylor University recently won the NCAA national championship, which is the first time the school has won a men’s basketball national title. As a coach, Nuness said it has been an amazing feeling to reach a goal that most teams dream of achieving. So what’s next?
“The goal is always to win another championship, but we understand that’s a tall task. So, if we don't fall short of helping our guys become better men, then that’s a win for us.”
Q: What Hopkins teacher made a difference?
A: Thomas Franke. He was unbelievable. He taught me so much about responsibility, priorities, and dealing with the pressure of being a student athlete. Even to this day, I still communicate with him and it’s more than 20 years later.
Q: How did Hopkins prepare you for the future?
A: Hopkins had such a family atmosphere and even now, people from high school have reached out to me and showed their support of Baylor and how proud they are, and that just makes me feel good because it reminds me of how close knit everything was in high school. At Baylor, we also value that family atmosphere. Everything we do focuses on growing men and having an impact on their lives not just from a coaching standpoint, but as a role model or mentor.
Stats: B.A. in Communications with a Minor in Theology from Valparaiso University