Jamon Copeland, who served as the head men’s basketball coach at Ave Maria from 2009-2013, is in his sixth year back at the University. The 2024-2025 season will be Copeland's tenth overall as the head coach of the Gyrenes.
The 2025-26 season will be Copeland’s 16th season as a head coach with prior stops at Aledo High School, The University of Texas at Tyler, Ave Maria University, Texas State University, Trinity Valley Community College, and Keller Central High School.
In Copeland's five years back at Ave Maria, the Gyrenes have been a consistent contender in The Sun Conference, posting a record of .500 or better in each season. AMU went to the Sun Conference final four in back-to-back years, including a trip to the conference tournament championship game in 2021. He also coached his second All-American in 2021, as guard Eric Klekas earned Honorable Mention honors.
His 2023-24 team was a historic one, as the Gyrenes earned an at-large bid to the NAIA Tournament, and won the program's first-ever national tournament game, a thrilling win in Oklahoma over nationally-ranked Southwestern. The team took another step forward in 2024-25, winning the Sun Conference Tournament title for the second time in program history. The Gyrenes were a three-seed in the 2025 NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament, and earned a first round win for the second year in a row, an overtime victory over Xavier (La.).
Copeland's second stint at Ave Maria began after a year at Aledo High School (TX). During his one season (2019-20) in Aledo as the head basketball coach, he lead the Bearcats to a second place District 4-5A finish and was awarded District 4-5A Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to Aledo, Copeland served six years (2013-19) at The University of Texas at Tyler as their head men’s basketball coach. While in Tyler, Copeland led the Patriots to the program’s first postseason victory, the second, third, and fourth-most wins in a season in school history, while also finishing with the most wins in a season for a first year head coach. Copeland also served as the Interim Director of Compliance in 2017 for the UT Tyler Athletic Department.
In 2009, Copeland was given the responsibility to start the program as the head men’s basketball coach at Ave Maria University. During his four years (2009-2013) at the helm of the program, Copeland increased the program’s wins in a season every year, going from 14 to 23. His teams were ranked in the NAIA Top 25 on numerous occasions, reaching as high as number 14 in the country.
Prior to moving to Florida, Copeland served as the assistant men’s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas State University in San Marcos. Copeland helped sign three McDonald’s All-American candidates, four players ranked in the Top 40 in the state of Texas, and helped the Bobcats improve their win totals in each of his three seasons.
During the 2005-06 season, Copeland was the assistant men's and women’s basketball coach at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas where he helped lead the Lady Cardinals to a Region XIV Championship and a NJCAA National Tournament appearance.
Copeland began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Keller Central High School. He is a 2004 graduate of Franciscan University and holds a Master of Science from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Additionally, Copeland is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is also a CrossFit Level I Trainer. He is also a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Catholic Basketball Association (CBA).
A native of Coppell, Texas, Copeland and his wife Jessica reside in Ave Maria with their five children: Corban, Blaise, Asher, Judah, and Mikel.
