Coach Klein just completed his 24th season as the head coach of the Chaffey College Men’s Basketball program & his 39th season overall. He was named the first professional expert to coach Men’s Basketball at a California Community College in 2001, where he has been a full-time coach at Chaffey College ever since. 

 

This past ’24-25 season, Coach Klein led the Hustlin’ Panthers to a…

• 25-6 record

• 1st Place conference finish

• His sophomore guard, Uriyah Glover, was named the Conference MVP & NABC All American

• Had 5 of his players named to the All-Conference Team

• Named the Conference Coach of the Year for the 10th time.

 

During the past 24 seasons under the leadership of Coach Jeff Klein, the Chaffey Panthers have…

• Averaged over 22 wins per season

• Has a overall record of 518 -198 in 23 seasons (as ’20-21 was cancelled due to Covid); a 72% winning percentage

• Sixteen 20+ win seasons

• Won Conference Championships for Chaffey 10 times (spanning three conferences)

• Advanced to the playoffs 21 of those 23 seasons

• Advanced to the Final Four on 3 occasions

• Advanced to the State Elite Eight once

• Advanced to the State Championship Finals once

• Well over 115 Panther alumni have received scholarships to four-year universities and many of his student-athletes have pursued careers as professional basketball players and coaches worldwide. 

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During that time, Coach Klein has been...

• Named Conference Coach of the Year 10 times

• Named State Coach of the Year twice.

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Coach Klein has also set and maintained a high standard for classroom excellence, as his players have been consistently awarded Chaffey College Student/Athlete Awards for classroom excellence.

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Coach has earned a reputation of developing players, physically & mentally, at every position each season. Much of his success is due to his ability to adjust season to season and even game to game due to graduation, recruiting, injuries and as well as unforeseen roster changes. He prepares for each season & game based around the current strengths and weakness of his own roster, as well as that of each opponent. His teams often undersized and outmanned by more talented opponents, Coach has been a master of “game time preparation and strategy.”

 

In addition to his head coaching responsibilities at Chaffey College, Jeff served as the Assistant Athletic Director in 2013-14, before being named the Athletic Director for the following six seasons (’14-19).  He was also the Official Basketball Representative for the Foothill Athletic Conference for many seasons.

 

Coach Klein, at age 23, became the youngest head coach in Southern California when he took the job at South Pasadena High School.

 

Before coming to Chaffey, Klein concluded a dramatic season at Upland High School where he coached the Highlanders to a CIF Division 1-AAA title in 2001. That season, the Highlanders…

 

• Ranked in the Top 10 Nation

• Won 28 games in a row

 

Coach led the Upland High School team from 1992 through 2001. During this time at Upland, his teams…

 

• Won three League Titles

• Qualified for the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) playoffs 7 straight season, from 1995 thru 2001.

• Klein has earned top honors in coaching, being named “Coach of the Year” by the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (SCIBCA), Fox Sports West 2 television, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, & the Los Angeles Times.

• He was also honored as the “Teacher of the Year” in 1996 by Upland High School.

 

Coach Klein has been fortunate to coach many fine student-athletes. Many have gone on to attend 4-year universities, and a few have reached the NBA. A few examples…

 

• Stacey Augmon (NCAA Championship player at UNLV, played 13 seasons in NBA, Assistant Coach w/ Milwaukee Bucks)

• Desmond Penigar (Played at Utah State, played in NBA for Orlando Magic)

• Coach Jesse Pruitt (Played at Univ. California Davis, Assistant Coach at Stanford University)

• Kirk Snyder (Played at Univ. of Nevada-Reno, played in NBA for Utah Jazz & Houston Rockets)

•  Jimmy Alapag (Now Sacramento Kings Asst Coach, Played at Cal State San Bernardino Captain, MVP Philippine Basketball Association, FIBA Players Commission)

• Coach Jeffrey Cammon (Alcorn State, Asst. Coach at Univ. Colorado & Cal, Head Coach at Long Beach St. & now at St Mary’s)

 

Over the years, Coach Klein has hosted a very successful “50-50 Basketball Camp” in which he has influenced many young athletes in the fundamentals of basketball. Coach Klein has also had some international experience…

 

• 2017, Coach of the USA team in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, where his team won the Gold Medal beating Turkey, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina and Israel in the Championship game.

• 2023, Montenegro Basketball Camps, where Coach Klein was presented as a Masterclass Clinician and was, also, part of the Pro tryout camp.

 

Current Membership and Certifications with the following Professional Organizations: 

• California Community College Athletic Association Membership

• California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Assoc. (CCCMBCA): 2001-present

• California Community Colleges Athletic Directors Assoc. (CCCADA): 2013-present

• NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches)

 

Previous Professional Organizations 

• National Assoc. of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA): 2013-2019

• Foothill Conference Basketball Representative and Executive Board member for the State

• Foothill Conference Basketball Representative (8 years)

• Executive Board Member CCCAA (8 years)

• Southern California Football Assoc., Competition Committee: 2018-19

• Community College Basketball Committee: 2009 -2015

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Honars & Awards

• Coach of the Year, So. California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Assoc. (SCIBCA), 2001.

• Coach of the Year, Fox Sports West 2, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Los Angeles Times, 2001.

• Coached San Bernardino All Stars, 1997.

• Teacher of the Year, Upland High School, 1996.

• All-Star Coach, City vs. Southern Section, 1991.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

• Implemented “Reading Rebounder” program for student-athletes (Players read to 5th graders at Hermosa Elementary School)

• Served on Los Osos High School Basketball search committee (for head coach).

• Implemented basketball clinics/camps for local elementary and junior high students, including annual Jeff Klein 50/50 Basketball Camp.

• Co-founder of Upland CA national junior basketball program.

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Coach Klein graduated from Lawrence High School on Long Island, New York, here he was an All-County athlete in football, basketball, and track. A graduate of SUNY at Cortland, Jeff earned his BS degree in Physical Education in 1985. In 1989, Jeff completed his MBA from the University of La Verne.  Coach Klein enjoys spending time with his family and traveling all over the world.

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