XAVIER NATION MAGAZINE FEATURE: Dream Team

Here is a fresh look to the Xavier men's basketball staff, with three new assistant coaches, two of whom are brand new to Xavier. After becoming head coach, Travis Steele surveyed the landscape across the country and interviewed a variety of candidates as he sought to build a staff. The result: assistant coaches Jonas Hayes, Ben Johnson, and former Musketeer Dante Jackson.

"The greatest thing that all three guys have going for them is that they can relate to anybody," says national recruiting analyst Brian Snow. "It is a rare thing for an assistant coach to be able to walk into any living room no matter the demographic or area and be able to relate. Ben, Jonas, and Dante all have the ability to do that."

Here is a look at Steele's staff from different perspectives.

JONAS HAYES

Hayes spent the past six years at the University of Georgia, five seasons as an assistant coach and one as operations coordinator. Prior to that he was at Belmont Abbey (five seasons), South Carolina State (one season), and Morehouse (one season). Hayes played as a freshman at Western Carolina before transferring to Georgia for three seasons. As a senior, he averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds.
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Hayes on Hayes: "I would like to think I bring a lot to the table basketball-wise and recruiting-wise. But at the end of the day, what's most important to me is being around solid individuals. That's what transcends a whole lot in this life. To my core and who I am, it's about connecting with people, connecting with students, our administration, our fans, and making an environment that's going to be conducive to success at all levels."

Steele on Hayes: "It's hard to find a big man who played that position who can teach and recruit as well. I didn't want to get Tyrique [Jones] and Zach [Hankins] a 5-foot-10 post coach. Jonas is 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7, and he's played that position. He knows the footwork that it takes to be a really good low-post player. Another thing that stood out was his ability to connect with people. Jonas can connect with people from the country, the city, any walk of life. He has the ability to put a smile on people's faces. And it's contagious."

Snow on Hayes: "Jonas is one of the best recruiters in the South and the state of Georgia specifically. He played at Georgia and his brother Jarvis, who played in the NBA, is also very tied in in the state. Jonas is known as a good post coach and someone who really relates well to people. He should be able to positively impact the development of players at Xavier, as well as bring excellent players in on the recruiting trail."

DANTE JACKSON

Jackson has been an assistant coach at Robert Morris (one season), Air Force (one season), and Northern Kentucky (one season), with a brief stop at Kent State before returning to Xavier. He was a graduate assistant at Xavier and Ohio University. He is, of course, a Xavier graduate and played four years for the Musketeers, going to the NCAA Tournament four consecutive years, including an Elite Eight appearance and two Sweet 16s.

Jackson on Jackson: "I am totally loyal to Travis, the program, and the university. Because of my background, it was kind of a perfect fit with Jonas and Ben. Travis wanted someone familiar with the program and with the system he's going to run. I can connect with the players differently. Everything we're doing I've had to do at some point, whether it's lifting weights or going to class in Alter Hall."

Steele on Jackson: "I've been around Dante for a long time. I've coached Dante, and he's been a graduate assistant here. No. 1, his passion for Xavier
is unparalleled. He's very invested in Xavier winning. Second, he knows our system. He played it. He's coached it.

He knows our terminology. He knows our drills. And I really respect his path. Dante hasn't been spoon-fed anything. His energy level is through the roof. It's how he was as a player. He is a great leader and communicator. He has a chance to be special."

Snow on Jackson: "There isn't much Xavier fans don't know about Dante Jackson. He was a celebrated recruit out of Greenfield High School who went on to be a four-year contributor during arguably the most successful period of Xavier basketball. While Dante doesn't have as much experience as Jonas or Ben, he does bring a tremendous understanding of the game, and no one has more love for Xavier University than he does."

BEN JOHNSON

Johnson coached the past five seasons at Minnesota. Prior to that he was an assistant at Nebraska (one season), Northern Iowa (four seasons), University of Texas-Pan American (two seasons), and University of Dayton (graduate assistant, one season). He played two seasons at Northwestern, then transferred to Minnesota for his last two years of eligibility. He scored a total of 1,202 career points in his four seasons of collegiate basketball.

Johnson on Johnson: "I bring the experience of playing in the Big Ten, the ups and downs, the expectations. Everything the players are being asked to do, I've done. I played in the NCAA Tournament, went to the Sweet 16, have coached a lot of good players. I understand what it takes to build the right culture and win at a high level. This will be the third head coach I've worked for who had zero or one year of head coaching experience, so I can help Trav if he has any questions as he navigates this first year."

Steele on Johnson: "Ben has a ton of experience at this level. I wanted to hire a couple of guys who have recruited and coached at this level. He's been at winning programs. He's got a great reputation as a perimeter development coach. I felt like that fit with Jonas working with the frontline. And Ben's personality fits well with Jonas. Ben is a little bit quieter, but he's very well thought out. He's extremely smart. He's recruited primarily in the Midwest, and Jonas has primarily recruited in the South. I felt like Ben was a guy who could give us great experience and great character."

Snow on Johnson: "Ben has been considered one of the better assistants in the Midwest for several years now. He was a star player at Minnesota and actually was an excellent high school football player. Ben has worked under guys such as Richard Pitino, Tim Miles, and Ben Jacobson, so he has been well-groomed in his time as an assistant. As a recruiter Ben has extensive ties in the Midwest, specifically Minnesota, and was a key cog in bringing in one of the most highly rated classes in the Big Ten last year to Minnesota."

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JONAS HAYES

DANTE JACKSON

BEN JOHNSON

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