Arkansas State University

Jeff Clapacs will begin his sixth season as an assistant coach with the Arkansas State men’s basketball program in 2013-14 and during that time has earned the respect of his peers as one of the up-and-coming young coaches in the NCAA ranks.

Clapacs, who began his current position at A-State in April 2008 as a member of head coach John Brady’s staff, oversees the graduate assistants for the A-State program along with the managers and is responsible for coordinating most of the behind the scenes duties for the Red Wolves.  He also works extensively with the Red Wolves' backcourt players.

“Jeff is one of the most mature and intelligent young coaches in the country,” said Brady.  “He was with me at LSU (Louisiana State University) and is extremely knowledgeable about the video and taping aspect of the game that is so prevalent today.  He’s an excellent teacher and communicator who definitely brings a balance to our staff which it needs.”

Prior to A-State, Clapacs spent the 2007-08 season at LSU as both the Director of Basketball Operations and Video Coordinator.  He helped oversee all areas of film, coordinated public relations for the Tigers, assisted with team travel, handled all equipment orders and inventory, and worked as director of LSU basketball camps.

A native of Euclid, Ohio which is located in the Cleveland Metropolitan area, Clapacs graduated from The College of Wooster (Ohio) in May 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies.  He authored a 56-page thesis in his junior year titled “The Rhetorical Implications Communicated in Coaching” and then wrote a 106-page thesis as a senior titled “The Recruitment Rhetoric of Division III Head Basketball Coaches” which examined the communication of recruiting at the NCAA Division III level without ability to offer athletic scholarships.

Clapacs spent two seasons as a player on the Fighting Scots’ men’s basketball team and then served from 2005-07 as a student assistant coach for one of the nation’s top NCAA Division III programs of this decade.

During his four years at Wooster, the nationally-ranked men’s basketball program registered an 108-15 record which was highlighted by two North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament Championships and a 2007 NCAA Division III Final Four appearance.  Clapacs worked at Wooster as an Assistant to the Operations Manager for Athletics, specializing in event management.

Clapacs also served as a counselor at several well-known summer basketball camps, including LSU’s under Coach Brady, Florida (Billy Donovan) and Duke (Mike Krzyzewski), along with camps conducted by the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers.  Clapacs would earned a master’s degree in sports leadership from Duquesne University’s School of Leadership and Professional Advancement in August 2010.  He held membership in Duquesne University’s Golden Key Honor Society. 

A 2003 graduate of Hawken High School in Gates Mills, Ohio, Clapacs competed four years (1999-03) apiece in both basketball and baseball.

A member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Clapacs is actively involved in the Jonesboro Young Professionals Network (JYPN) and is an Arkansas Activities Association member.

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