Bio

Jeff Thurman enters his sixth season at the helm of the North Platte Community College Knights women’s basketball program.

The native of Abingdon, Ill., has produced a 59-89 record during his tenure. Under Coach Thurman’s leadership, the Knights have won three Region IX Championships (2018-2019, 2021 & 2021-2022), two NJCAA Northwest Plains District Championships (2018-2019 & 2021), and advanced to the NJCAA Women’s Basketball National Tournament twice.

During the 2021-22 season, Thurman guided the Knights to a perfect record in Region IX play and was rewarded with his second Region IX Coach of the Year honor. The Knights set a new school record during the season in wins (22), while spending most of the season receiving votes in the NJCAA National polls.

The Knights rewrote the record books during the 2021-22 campaign, setting new school records in three-point field goals made (181), three-point field goals attempted (724), offensive rebounds (544), defensive rebounds (907), total rebounds (1451), points (2187) and defensive average (58.6).

Additionally, Nahatabaa Nacona, Madisyn Francis, Emily Joseph, Diamond Moore-Heath, Kayla Pope, Janay Brauer, Jada Ballard, Jordyn Moon, Fumnanya Ijeh, and Jada Grigsby have received All-Region IX honors under the leadership of Coach Thurman.

Prior to his arrival in North Platte, Thurman spent the 2017-18 season at Carl Sandburg College as a recruiting Coordinator and academic advisor, while helping coach the men’s basketball team.

While attending graduate school at Western Illinois University in 2017, Thurman was on the staff as a graduate assistant and video coordinator. He received his Master of Science in Sports Management in 2017.

In 2016, he was named the head women’s basketball coach at Black Hawk East College in Galva, Ill., where he finished 23-8.

Awards & Honors

Head Coach, North Platte Community College (2018-Present)
NJCAA Women’s Basketball National Tournament (North Platte – 2018-19 & 2021)
Northwest Plains District Coach of the Year (2018-19 & 2021)
Region IX Champions (2018-19, 2021, 2021-22 & 2023-24)
Region IX Coach of the Year (2018-19, 2021, 2021-22 & 2023-24)
Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2021-22 & 2023-24)
Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference Champions (2021-22 & 2023-24)