CEDAR CITY — It’s official: Rob Jeter is the new men’s basketball head coach at Southern Utah University.
The announcement was made Tuesday in a news release from SUU.
An introductory press conference will be held in the Sharwan Smith Student Center Ballroom at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 13.
Jeter joins the Thunderbird family from Western Illinois University, where he spent the last three years as the head coach. Jeter inherited a team that won just five games the year prior and in his previous two seasons, had the Leathernecks over .500 both years.
“My family and I are so excited to join the SUU family and community, we are truly blessed to have this opportunity and to continue the successes that Todd Simon has had,” said Jeter. “I want to thank Doug (Knuth) and President (Mindy) Benson for this opportunity. Let’s go Thunderbirds.”
Jeter carries over 25 years of coaching experience and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. His previous stops included the University of Minnesota, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and a head coaching stint at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
In 11 years with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was awarded Coach of the Year three times and had five 20+ win seasons. Jeter led the Panthers to two NCAA tournament appearances, including a first-round win over No. 6-seeded Oklahoma in 2006.
Jeter left Milwaukee (2005-2016) as its all-time winningest coach (Division I era) with an overall record of 185-170. The Panthers claimed the Horizon League’s regular-season titles in 2006 and 2011 and tournament titles in 2006 and 2014.
“After conducting a nationwide search, we are confident that Rob Jeter is the right person to lead our men’s basketball program. He brings an impressive resume to SUU, and we are thrilled he, Deanna, and their children are joining the T-Bird family,” said SUU athletic director Doug Knuth.
“We are excited to welcome Rob and his family to T-Bird Nation,” said SUU President Mindy Benson. “We are confident that Rob’s experience and leadership skills will continue to elevate the men’s basketball program and look forward to next season.”
Jeter’s most recent trip to the NCAAs occurred in 2019 as an assistant at Minnesota. The Gophers ended their season in the second round but earned their first tournament win in six years to go alongside another 20-win season (22-14).
Prior to Minnesota, Jeter was on staff at UNLV from 2016-18. The Runnin’ Rebels doubled their wins in year two to produce a 20-win season, and Jeter had a hand in recruiting the 12th-best class in the country that included McDonald’s High School All-American Brandon McCoy and National Junior College Player of the Year Shakur Juiston.
From 2001-05 Jeter was an assistant at the University of Wisconsin under Hall of Fame head coach Bo Ryan. The Badgers had much success during this run, including four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including berths in the Sweet 16 in 2003 and the Elite Eight in 2005.
Jeter played college basketball for Ryan at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and captained his team to the NCAA Division III title in 1991. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1991 and a master’s from UWP in 2001.
Jeter was inducted into the UW-Platteville Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and was also inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame class for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He became a three-time Hall of Famer in 2013 when Platteville’s 1991 national championship team received the school’s highest honor.
Jeter comes to Cedar City with his wife, Deanna, and their four children.
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