Ex-Bowling Green coach apologizes for inappropriate behavior that went viral
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In his first comments since being fired from his first Division I head coaching job, Chris Jans apologized for the inappropriate behavior that led to his dismissal from the men's basketball program at Bowling Green.
"On March 21st I made a mistake for which I sincerely apologize," Jans, the former Wichita State assistant who was fired April 2, said in a statement released today to FOXSportsKansasCity.com and other outlets.
"After our final loss of the season I went to a bar to be amongst friends, became intoxicated and proceeded to act in a manner which was inappropriate.
"I have tried to instill in every student I've coached the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions, and that is what I am trying to do now."
Jans last week was the subject of a viral video allegedly taken at a campus bar on March 21, one in which he was shown touching a female patron's buttocks and being scolded by another female patron shortly thereafter.
The Falcons had just completed a 21-12 season, Jans' first after seven seasons in Wichita, and were eliminated in the second round of the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament. It was Bowling Green's first 20-victory campaign since 2002, and Jans led the Falcons to their first postseason win since 1975.
"I have been completely forthcoming and honest with the Bowling Green State University administration during this process," the statement continued. "I immediately made efforts to apologize to those offended that evening including the woman who approached me that night to chastise me for my conduct. Although I have already apologized to my wife, my family, my players and coaches, I want to now publicly apologize to everyone else, including any one in the BGSU community who may have been affected by this matter -- I am truly sorry."
Jans was let go by the university following an investigation into the aforementioned incident.
"The university concluded that Jans' public conduct failed to meet his obligations as a head coach," a Bowling Green statement explained, "and the expectations that BGSU Athletics has for its coaches."
Jans thanked the Falcons through his statement "for giving me the opportunity to be its head basketball coach" and said he planned "to use the future months and years to improve myself as an individual and to show them that their faith in me as a coach, and a person, was not unwarranted."
You can follow Sean Keeler on Twitter at @SeanKeeler or email him at seanmkeeler@gmail.com.
