Christian guides Mountaineers into NCAA tournament for second time in four years

Mount St. Mary’s head basketball coach and New Kent native Jamion Christian led his Mountaineers to a 71-61 victory over the St. Francis (PA) Red Flash on Mar. 7, earning a bid to the NCAA tournament.

The win marks the second time Christian has led the Mountaineers to the big dance, with his other appearance coming in 2014. Christian received accolades as the Northeast Conference’s coach of the year and guided the Mountaineers to its first regular season title in 21 years.

Christian graduated from New Kent High School in 2000 and was named the Group 1A Player of the Year after guiding the Trojans to a 26-0 record and a state basketball championship. He continued his basketball career at Mount St. Mary’s, graduating in 2004. After coaching stops at Emory & Henry, Bucknell, William & Mary, and Virginia Commonwealth University, he received the nod as the Mountaineers head coach in 2013.

Christian’s win also marks the first time since 2012 where the regular season champion of the Northeast Conference also won the tournament.