Jeff Daniels enters his third season as the Director of Basketball Operations under Head Coach Mike Anderson.
Daniels came to Mizzou after one season at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he served in a similar capacity on Anderson's 2005-06 staff. That Blazer club enjoyed a 24-7 overall record and earned an at-large berth to the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
Daniels has been a jack of all trades at Mizzou, overseeing the administration of Mike Anderson's individual and team basketball camps, Mizzou Basketball team travel, facility scheduling, public relations affairs and budgetary management.
"I am excited to have Jeff Daniels be part of our family at Missouri," Head Coach Mike Anderson said. "Jeff is a veteran basketball coach and understands what we are working to accomplish here at Missouri. I've known Jeff for a number of years and I know him to have an outstanding basketball mind. "Jeff also brings a level of passion and enthusiasm that will be beneficial for our young club. Jeff is a big part of our staff."
Before UAB, Daniels spent a combined 10 years as head coach at the University of Montevallo (1995-2003) and associate head coach at Division II Valdosta State (2003-05).
Daniels took over his alma mater, Montevallo, in 1995 as the program's fifth head coach. His reputation as an outstanding defensive mind helped the Falcons to a seven-win improvement over his first five seasons. Ranked among the nation's top 10 in field goal percentage defense, Daniels earned Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2002 before being named the associate head coach at Valdosta State. With the Blazers, Daniels continued his defensive excellence, helping the club to a 43-13 ledger over two seasons, culminating with a Gulf South Conference crown and a No. 3 NCAA Division II national ranking. Defensively, the Blazers were one of the nation's finest, ranking No. 1 nationally in field goal percentage defense (35.7 percent in 2004 and 36.1 percent in 2005) each of his two seasons at the school.
"It's a tremendous privilege to be on Coach Anderson's staff here at Missouri," Daniels said. "Coach Anderson brings a high level of excellence and his competitive spirit is contagious to everyone in and around our program. The University of Missouri is a tremendous institution and provides an outstanding environment for us to grow the young men associated with our program, academically, athletically and as citizens."
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Daniels graduated from Huffman High School and then teamed with Anderson on the hardwood at Jefferson State Community College during the 1979-80 season. As teammates, the tandem of Daniels and Anderson reached the National Junior College Athletic Association national title game where they fell to Nolan Richardson's Western Texas squad. Daniels then continued his collegiate career at Montevallo, where he was a two-year standout as a player before entering the coaching ranks at his alma mater as a graduate assistant. In two seasons as a player, Daniels led Montevallo to a 35-23 overall record and was awarded the Dean's Trophy for scholastic achievement as a junior and was named a team captain as a senior.
Daniels began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under coach Dr. Bill Elder, before joining Rob Spiver's Montevallo staff in 1986 as a full-time assistant. Daniels helped guide the Falcons to four 20-win seasons before being charged with the head coaching duties in 1995.
Daniels, and his wife, Robbie, have two children, son Andrew (12) and daughter Makenzie (8).
