Brandeis University

Jean Bain has been the head coach of the Brandeis University men's basketball team since October 1, 2018, marking him as the 11th coach in the program's history. Before this, he held coaching positions at Columbia University, Dartmouth College, the University of New Hampshire, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, bringing a wealth of experience to Brandeis. Bain's coaching career began in 2004 as an assistant at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he contributed to a 24-5 record and an NCAA Division III Sweet 16 appearance. He then moved to the University of New Hampshire (2005–2012), recruiting three players who scored over 1,000 points each. At Dartmouth College (2012–2016), he served as assistant and later associate head coach, increasing win totals each of his first four years and recruiting back-to-back Ivy League Rookies of the Year in 2015 and 2016. He joined the Columbia coaching staff as an assistant in 2016 and was promoted to associate head coach the next year. He served as the Lions' recruiting coordinator, bringing in one of the top classes in recent memory in the Class of 2021. On the court, his focus was the team's perimeter players and offensive play, helping Columbia lead the Ivy League in scoring on a points-per-possession basis in 2016-17.

In 2018, Bain returned to Massachusetts as Brandeis's head coach, taking over the program. His first full season resulted in an 18-11 record, a significant improvement, with the team winning the New England Big Four Challenge, defeating Babson in the title game behind an MVP performance from Corey Sherman '20. Bain also led the Judges to the ECAC Division III tournament championship winning four games in five days to claim the fourth ECAC crown in program history. Bain also helped Lawrence Sabir '21 earn UAA Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Sherman was a second-team All-UAA selection and Chandler Jones '21 was an honorable mention. The team improved by 11 wins from the previous season, posting the highest win total since 2011, thanks to the second-rated defense in the UAA. 

Subsequent seasons saw continued success, with a 17-8 record in 2019–2020, ranking No. 24 in the D3Hoops.com poll and leading the UAA in 3-point shooting at 37%. During that season, Collin Sawyer '20/MA '22 and Chandler Jones '22 earned first-team All-UAA honors and D3Hoops.com All-New England accolades. Eric D'Aguanno '20 became the program's all-time leader in 3-pointers and joined the 1,000-point club as well.  The Judges returned to the D3Hoops.com national rankings for the first time since 2012-13, reaching #24 in the nation after an upset win over then-#3 Emory. That win garnered the Judges NABC Team of the Week honors and saw D'Aguanno's buzzer-beater land on ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Day. Statistically, the Judges led the UAA in 3-point shooting that year, hitting 37 percent from beyond the arc.

After the 2020-21 season was suspended due to COVID-19, Bain led the 2021-22 squad to a preseason national ranking in the D3Hoops.com poll, while seeing three different players score their 1,000th career point - Sawyer, Jones and graduate transfer Tommy Eastman MS '23, who went on to earn All-UAA and All-Region honors. The 2022-23 squad saw sophomore Toby Harris lead the UAA in scoring while earning first-team All-Association honors. The 2023-24 Judges led the UAA in team defense, allowing just 65.8 points per game, as senior Aedan Using was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year after leading the team in rebounding, blocked shots, and steals. The Judges also topped the UAA in turnover margin, with a +3.16 advantage. Other recent achievements include leading the UAA in defensive efficiency in 2023–2024, allowing 65.8 points per game. In the 2024-25 season Bain earned Hoopdirt.com Division III Men's Basketball Coach of the Week in January 2025. Coach Bain has also continued to develop 2x All UAA member and 4th team All-American Toby Harris 25’ who went on to Division I Iona University (NY), and develop 2nd team All UAA member Elias Rodl 25’. The 24-25 Judges had a top offensive team in the country and ranking #16 in the nation in offensive efficiency, #13 in Assist / Turnover ratio, #11 in Assists per game, #18 in Field Goal %, #14 in 3pt %, and #34 in points per game. 

Bain's coaching philosophy is rooted in creating a positive and enjoyable environment, as detailed in a 2019 article from the [Boston Herald](https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/28/new-england-basketball-jean-bain-helps-reset-culture-at-brandeis/). He emphasizes that practices should be fun, stating, "We try to make it a positive and fun kind of environment when they come in the gym, so the two hours they’re there, they know it’s going to be an enjoyable two hours." His teams have ranked highly in defensive efficiency and offensive efficiency.

Bain played college basketball at Northeastern University, earning a B.S. in Sociology in 2002. He was named America East Rookie of the Year in 1999, served as team captain in his junior and senior years, and received All-America East honors in 2002. He averaged 9.5 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.9 rebounds over 103 games, with a standout senior year averaging 10.6 points and 2.8 assists.

Beyond coaching, Bain is involved with Team IMPACT, pairing athletic programs with children with disabilities, and runs the Jean Bain Basketball School, offering camps for young athletes. He resides in Danvers, Massachusetts, with his wife, Melissa. 

Coaching Experience

2018- Head coach Brandeis University

2017-18 Associate Head coach Columbia University

2016-17 Assistant coach Columbia University

2014-16 Associate Coach Dartmouth College

2012-14 Assistant coach Dartmouth College

2006-12 Assistant coach University of New Hampshire

2005-06- Assistant coach Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Additional Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGqVQi1_Klc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWVlzVhI6QQ

https://www.jeanbainbasketballcamps.com/