Men's Basketball 5/4/2024 1:45:00 PM

Herschel Jenkins and Kevin Zabo Join Men’s Basketball Coach Staff

Canisius head men's basketball coach Jim Christian announced today (May 4) the additions of Herschel Jenkins and Kevin Zabo as assistant coaches on his inaugural coaching staff for the 2024-25 season.

"Both Herschel and Kevin are great additions to the Canisius program," Christian said. "Both of these guys come highly recommended, and they are both hard workers and relentless recruiters. Their collective passion for this profession, and their desire to help make our young men better basketball players and leaders on and off the court will be a tremendous asset to our program and to the University."

Jenkins comes to Canisius after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Stonehill College, where he helped the Skyhawk program transition to the NCAA Division I level. Before joining Chris Kraus' staff at Stonehill, Jenkins spent the 2021-22 campaign as the director of basketball operations at Boston University, where he worked for head coach Joe Jones. While with the Terriers, he helped BU post a 22-13 overall record, including an 11-7 mark in Patriot League play, as that team earned a berth into the 2022 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament. In addition to leading the Terriers' transition defense, he coordinated all team travel, meals, and apparel and served as the program's liaison with Boston University's administration, compliance, residence life and career development staffs. He also evaluated prospective student-athletes and prepared video edits for the coaching staff, players and recruits.

Jenkins got his start at the Division I level at Fordham University under head coaches Jeff Neubauer and Michael DePaoli, being elevated each year from assistant video coordinator to director of operations over his last two years, including a stint as interim assistant coach during the 2020-21 season. Jenkins started his career in the collegiate coaching ranks as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for head coach Pat Scanlon at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y. There, he helped lead the Valiants' offensive efforts, served as the team's primary skill development coach and acted as the team's academic coordinator. Jenkins heavily recruited in the New York City metro area, prepared practice plans, opponent scouts and film exchange and coordinated the team's volunteer efforts. Prior to his time at Manhattanville, he coached at the Hoop Group Skills/Elite Camp in Reading, Pa., for four summers.

A 2014 graduate from the College of Staten Island in 2014, he was a four-year member of the Dolphins men's basketball team, helping the program to back-to-back conference championships in 2012 and 2013 and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 in 2012. He earned his master's degree in sports business management from Manhattanville in 2016.

"I am humbled that coach Christian called me to be a part of his staff at Canisius University," Jenkins said. "The opportunity to work in the MAAC with a head coach with such an accomplished resume and pedigree is truly exciting. I am looking forward to building this basketball program at Canisius, while also fully immersing myself in the Buffalo community."

Zabo joins the Griffs' staff after spending the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach at FDU. Prior to taking the assistant spot within the Knights program, he served as the director of player development at Jacksonville.

A 2016 graduate of Kent State, Zabo began his college coaching career at his alma mater, where he started as a graduate assistant manager before being tabbed as the program's director of basketball operations. In his time at Kent State, where he worked under Christian, Zabo managed the day-to-day aspects of the program including scheduling, travel arrangements, budgeting, equipment and practice/workout operations. Serving as the player development coach for the guards and wings, Zabo assisted in the development of All-MAC First-Team honoree Sincere Carry and MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Malique Jacobs. Zabo also handled video elements of practice and scouting, while working alongside athletic training and other support staff units.

A two-time Division I student-athlete, Zabo began his career at San Diego State, winning the Mountain West Regular Season Championship in 2015, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where the Aztecs advanced to the second round. After a stop in the junior college ranks, he returned to Division I, this time at Kent State in 2016. In his two seasons with the Golden Flashes, Zabo was named a team captain and helped the team to a MAC Tournament title in 2017, resulting in his second March Madness appearance.

Upon the end of his college playing career, Zabo signed to play professionally, first in 2018 with the Albecete Basketball Club in Spain, and then with the Ponferrada Basketball Club, also in Spain, in 2019.

A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Zabo is the co-founder of GetBetterBasketball, based in Montreal.

"I am thrilled to be joining Canisius University men's basketball program," Zabo said. "Having previously worked with coach Christian at Kent State, our shared experiences and the bond we have cultivated within the Kent State family make this opportunity all the more special. I am eager to contribute positively to both the team and community at Canisius and also within the Western New York region."

Additionally, Christian announced that Jasper Torres will remain with the Golden Griffin men's basketball program as the team's graduate assistant manager. Torres, who is working toward his master's degree in sport administration at Canisius, served as an undergraduate student manager with the program from 2019-23.

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