Jason Flanigan Position: Grad. Administrative Aide College: Ole Miss, 2001

There are two old sayings. One is “It runs in the family,” and the other is “Blood is thicker than water.”

Both ring true in the Flanigan household, as Jason joins the Ole Miss basketball staff as the graduate administrative aide for the 2002-03 campaign.

“Jason is a hard worker and very loyal, and I’m excited to have him back in our program,” head coach Rod Barnes said. “I know he wants to get into the coaching profession, and this will be a time for him to observe and learn.

“This is a great opportunity for him to learn about the profession, but more importantly, to earn his master’s degree. In time, Jason is going to be a good coach.”

Flanigan is the third member of his family to get the coaching bug. His father, Al, is the longtime and highly-successful head coach at Little Rock’s Parkview High School, a perennial power in Arkansas prep hoops. His brother, Wes, is in his third year as an assistant coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College.

The 2001 Ole Miss graduate will assist Coordinator of Basketball Operations Jay Bowen in the administrative areas of the program. Flanigan will also help monitor the academic progress of the players and assist in film exchange.

Flanigan returns to the Ole Miss basketball program after a stellar career wearing the Red and Blue from 1998-2001. A 6-foot-1 guard for the Rebels, Flanigan was a member of the winningest senior class in Ole Miss basketball history with 88 victories. During his four seasons, the Rebels posted winning records and advanced to the postseason each year (3 NCAA, 1 NIT). He was also a member of the 1998 and 2001 Ole Miss squads that claimed Southeastern Conference Western Division titles.

He played in 127 career games and averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds. The 127 games played are second most by a Rebel in the program’s history. Flanigan also dished out 302 assists, which is seventh most in Ole Miss history. As a senior in 2000-01, he hit a free throw with :02 on the clock to seal a 59-56 NCAA Tournament second round victory over Notre Dame and propel Ole Miss to the program’s first “Sweet Sixteen.”

Less than a month after his collegiate career, Flanigan played with the Memphis Houn’Dawgs in the ABA 2000 playoffs. He had 13 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in that contest.

Prior to Ole Miss, Flanigan was a standout at Parkview High School for his father. He earned All-State honors following his senior season, and played in two Arkansas state title games as a junior (runner-up) and sophomore (champion).