Chris Jans misses New Mexico Highlands game due to COVID-19 protocols
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LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State head men's basketball coach Chris Jans missed Wednesday's game against New Mexico Highlands due to COVID-19 protocols but athletic director Mario Moccia said he expects Jans to return to the sideline for Tuesday's game against the University of New Mexico.
Associate head coach James Miller acted as the Aggies' head coach in Jans' absence.
Chris Jans, who was going for his 100th win as the Aggies’ head coach tonight against DII New Mexico Highlands, will not coach this evening. Jans told me in August that the entire coaching staff is fully vaccinated. NMSU could not elaborate on Jans’ absence. https://t.co/o9mTifyI6N
— Stephen Wagner (@stephenwag22) November 24, 2021
A spokesperson for NM State Athletics would not elaborate on the statment or comment whether or not Jans tested positive for COVID-19. Jans previously said the entire NMSU men's basketball coaching staff is fully vaccinated but not all players are.
The spokesperson also declined to comment whether or not Jans' absence is related to a positive test or close contact within the team.
Per NCAA COVID-19 protocols, procedure for close contacts for fully vaccinated players and coaches is: "Masking in public indoor settings for 14 days with discontinuation if a COVID-19 test is performed three to five days after exposure and is negative, or if assessment does not reveal high risk."
Those who test positive for the virus must isolate for 10 days and go at least 24 hours without fever without "the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved," regardless of whether or not the individual is fully vaccinated, according to NCAA protocols.
Jans was credited with his 100th career win as the Aggies' head coach with Wednesday's win over New Mexico Highlands, becoming the sixth Aggie men's basketball coach to accomplish the feat.
Wednesday was also Miller's first time serving as a Division I head coach. His only other head coaching experience was when he served as the head coach at New Mexico Junior College from 2012-15.
Stephen Wagner is a sports reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can found on Twitter at @stephenwag22 and reached at SWagner@lcsun-news.com.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU coach Chris Jans misses New Mexico Highlands basketball game due to COVID-19 protocols
