Coaching Staff

Jace Thompson, Head Coach

Indiana University Kokomo men’s basketball head coach Jace Thompson enters his first year as the head coach of the Cougars.  Thompson was named the head coach in April of 2010.

The Cougar’s head coach came to IU Kokomo after having served as an assistant coach at Purdue North Central University for the 3 previous seasons.  In his three years at PNC, Thompson was the top assistant and was involved in every phase of the program, including recruiting, academics, scouting, and on-floor coaching duties.  Prior to his post at PNC, Coach Thompson spent one season at University of Rio Grande in the same position.  His duties there also included all aspects of the basketball program, including film exchange, travel arrangements, recruiting and game day operations.

Before entering the college ranks as a coach, Thompson was an assistant coach at the high school level.  He made coaching stops at Daleville High School and Culver Military Academy.   While at Culver Military Academy he served as counselor for approximately 50 cadets.  He also is the Academy’s summer athletic director during their leadership camp for over 1300 students from all over the world.

A native of Linton, IN, Coach Thompson spent his college years at University of Southern Indiana, Ball State University, and attended graduate school at Purdue University. 

Working in athletics has been a way of life for Coach Thompson.  He enjoys having the responsibility of helping young student-athletes obtain degrees and become adults while coaching basketball.   He looks forward to building the program here at IU Kokomo.

Joel Burrus, Assistant Coach

Coach Burrus grew up just north of Kokomo in Akron, IN.  Since high school Coach Burrus has been helping his father, John Burrus, coach at the high school level for 5 years.  Most recently he has served  as Southwood High School’s head junior varsity coach.  There, his team’s accomplished a 47-13 overall record which saw two 7-0 Three Rivers Conference Championships and 3 straight county championships. Also serving as the head varsity assistant at Southwood HS, the varsity teams went 54-35 and won a conference championship, a sectional, and a regional championship

Joel now calls home Macy, Indiana. He is currently studying at IU Kokomo and is a secondary education major.  Joel’s parents are John and Tammy Burrus and he has two sisters Lael, a current freshman on IUK’s women’s volleyball team, and Alicia.