Stu Ordman has coached basketball teams since 1980 and has rolled up 453 victories during his career, including a 225-145 record at Jefferson the past 16 years.

Now he plans to share the job.

Brandon Horman, 28, will serve as the co-head coach with Ordman at Jefferson this season after spending five years in the program as a sophomore coach and varsity assistant.

"Brandon has been extremely helpful," Ordman said after practice Tuesday. "He has good rapport with the students and athletes and I just figured, 'Two heads are better than one.' So we have the opportunity to work together and help all the boys in the program.

"He's an excellent teacher of the game," Ordman said. "We work very well together. I think that will be to the benefit of the young men in our program."

Horman played at Calamus-Wheatland High School and at Mount Mercy University. He appreciates the chance to play a more prominent role on the Jefferson coaching staff.

"I'm definitely excited about the opportunity," he said. "I couldn't ask to be at a better place to be doing it. Coach Ordman has probably forgotten more about basketball than I know. I couldn't ask for a better teacher to be around. It was kind of a no-brainer for me."

Ordman and Horman could have a big job this year with the J-Hawks. Jacob Olson, an all-conference point guard, returns after averaging 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season when Jefferson finished 13-11, but other players will need to play more prominent roles.

Ky Kramer (12.9 ppg) and Creighton Robinson (9.5 ppg) graduated and Layne Sullivan, one of the most versatile athletes in the school, has decided not to play basketball this year as a senior. Ordman said Sullivan plans to play football in college and has elected to prepare for the future.

"I think the world of Layne," Ordman said. "I wish him well."

Lucas Larson, Jake Van Oort, Brandon Weiderin, Tyler Konigsmark, Bryce Cardis and Davis Hall and others will be asked to play key roles this year. "They're all going to need to step up, big-time," Ordman said. "They seem enthusiastic about it."

Ordman also has his eye on a few sophomores who could be promoted to the varsity.

Olson made a big leap last season from his sophomore to junior years and established himself as one of the best players in the Metro area. Ordman thinks he's capable of making another jump this year.

"I sure as heck hope so," he said. "I think he can be very creative on offense. He's been streaky, so we want to get him to be more consistent and be able to move without the ball."

Ordman said Olson is also capable of becoming more consistent on defense and help even more with the rebounding. "When he really wants to be versatile, he can do a lot of things on a basketball court offensively and defensively," the coach said.

Jefferson will play Prairie in the Metro Sports Report Classic on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Kirkwood Community College gym in a Pride Challenge event. The J-Hawks will open the regular season Dec. 3 at Clinton.