Get to Know WBB Assistant Coach Jonas Chatterton

Jonas Chatterton joined the Oregon State women’s basketball staff in June as an assistant coach. A native of Utah, Chatterton has 12 years’ experience in Division I coaching, and is coming off a four year stint at Colorado. He sat down with Oregon State Athletic Communications this week to talk about what brought him to Corvallis, the Oregon State team, and the future of Beaver Women’s Basketball:

What attracted you to a job at Oregon State?

The biggest factor for me was the people. Scott Rueck is a fantastic person, and I think he does a great job with the program. The rest of the staff is great as well, and I think the vision for this program is fantastic.

What can fans expect to see from Oregon State women’s basketball in 2014-15?

I think fans should have high expectations. I believe this program will excel, and continue to grow off of what it did last year. I believe we will continue to have great success. That begins with continuing to be a great defensive team, and looking to push the ball and score points.

You were part of a select group that was selected to go to the Nike Villa 7 Consortium, an annual invite-only convention that brings together university athletic directors and the country's elite assistant basketball coaches. What was that experience like for you?

I’ve had the opportunity to go twice now, and it’s been a fantastic experience. It’s a one of a kind opportunity in terms of development as a coach. It gives you the opportunity to meet administrators and athletic directors, and to pick their brains about what they’re looking for in a coach.

Has there been any part of Corvallis that has surprised you so far?

I think Corvallis offers more than some people might anticipate from the outside. It’s a great place to raise a family, and I think the downtown area is growing and is vibrant. There is a lot of stuff to do for families, and I think it’s been a nice surprise that way.

How have you enjoyed your Oregon State football experiences so far?

It’s exciting to see that much orange in one place, because I’d never seen that before. I think there’s an outstanding fan base here, and there are so many people around here that are invested in Oregon State athletics. I’ve had the chance to go out to football practice and watch coach Riley, and I’m really pulling for them.

You join a team with a lot of young talent. How exciting is it to become part of a program with such tremendous upside?

It’s incredibly exciting, especially because of the culture that has been put in place here. The work ethic that is part of the culture here is great. The girls here are constantly trying to get better every day, and that is a great thing to see.

The coaching staff at Oregon State has done a great job of building the program over the last several years. What needs to happen to continue that growth into the future?

I think you have to keep recruiting great student-athletes that fit the culture that has been put in place by coach Rueck. Beyond that I think we just need keep developing and getting better, not only individually, but as a team as well. We just need to keep moving our expectations higher and higher each season.

How would you describe your coaching style?

I think that we are all in this business to help develop these young ladies, and anything you can do to help build their confidence will help them both on and off the floor. I think it’s important to keep working with them, and to show your commitment to helping them grow as players and as people.

The Oregon State program has prided itself in the last few years on not only having great athletes on the floor, but high-character people off it as well. How important is that balance to building a strong team?

I think it’s extremely important. This program is a testament to coach Rueck and everything he wants to accomplish. Since I’ve been here, I’ve learned that everything stops and starts with high character, and we need to make sure we continue that. I think that’s the foundation that this program is built on, and it will continue to be a big part of where it goes in the future.

Having been in the Pac-12 for the last few years, you know a decent amount about the conference. Where do you think Oregon State fits into the Pac-12 landscape right now?

I expect us to be at the top of the conference this year, with a chance to win it. With the talent we have returning and the plan we have in place, I think we have as good a chance as anyone to win the Pac-12 title this year.