Mississippi State fans have a chance to meet Leach, Purcell and Jans

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State followers seeking to catch a glimpse of their new basketball coaches can accomplish that this week. Sam Purcell and Chris Jans are becoming a member of soccer coach Mike Leach on MSU’s annual summer season coaches tour.

The trio will make two stops Tuesday, beginning in Olive Department (11:30 a.m.) then going to Greenwood (6 p.m.). The next day, the tour will cease in Gulfport at 6 p.m. earlier than closing issues out at 6 p.m. Thursday in Jackson.

The summer season tour will lengthen past the week with a brand new occasion referred to as Hail State Blissful Hours. MSU will manage 90-minute casual occasions for followers to socialize with coaches, however particulars on these have not been launched but.

BACK TO JANS: Why Mississippi State gamers returned to play for a brand new coach

GRADES: Grading MSU’s 2021-22 athletic season

Purcell is coming into his first season as ladies’s basketball coach after serving as an assistant at Louisville. He’s taking over for interim coach Doug Novak who led the Bulldogs to a 15-14 season after Nikki McCray-Penson stepped down in October. 

Jans was named coach of the boys’s crew in March after Ben Howland was fired after an 18-16 season. He spent 5 seasons at New Mexico State and the Aggies certified for 4 NCAA Event berths. 

Leach is in his third seasons with the Bulldogs. After a 4-7 first season, Mississippi State improved to 7-6 in 2021. With two years remaining on his contract, Leach advised The Clarion Ledger final week an extension is “shifting down the street fairly productively.”

Followers can register for the summer season tour right here. 

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat author for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or observe him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.