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Princeton University Athletics
Jenkins Added, Saunders Retained as Henderson Fills Basketball Staff
May 13, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jenkins comes to Princeton after having worked under and played under two Princeton basketball alumni now in the coaching ranks, Chris Mooney '94 and Joe Scott '87.
"Having worked with two prominent Princeton basketball alumni, Marcus is very familiar with the values we hold so highly at Princeton," Henderson said. "He will be a great asset to our team as he sets an example for how our players should go about their work on the court and in the classroom. He also understands the kind of player and person we want to bring into the Princeton basketball family."
A 2004 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Jenkins played for four years with Scott as his head coach and Mooney as an assistant coach. While completing his three-year Air Force commitment, Jenkins assisted at Fairfield (Mont.) High School in 2006-07 before joining Mooney's staff at Richmond in June 2007 as the team's Director of Basketball Operations.
"I want to thank Richmond and Chris Mooney for giving me the chance to begin a career in coaching and for teaching me so much during my time there," Jenkins said. "I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Mitch Henderson and the student-athletes of the Princeton basketball program. The program has a tradition of success, both in the past and as recently as last season, and I look forward to contributing to that."
Richmond made the postseason all four years Jenkins was on staff. The Spiders were College Basketball Invitational participants in 2008 and 2009, advancing to the CBI semifinals in 2009 one year before Princeton advanced to the CBI's final four. In 2010, the Spiders made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.
This past season, 12th-seeded Richmond knocked off Vanderbilt in the first round and Morehead State in the second round before advancing to the Sweet Sixteen against Kansas.
"The experience Marcus had at Richmond, helping that team to the Sweet Sixteen, will be an asset to us as we look to build on the success our team enjoyed last season," Henderson said.
Jenkins, a native of Lompoc, Calif., was a two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at Cabrillo High and was named Los Padres League MVP as a senior. While helping Air Force in 2004 to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1962, Jenkins earned the team's Falcon Award, given to the individual who sacrifices the most for the betterment of the team.
During his three-year Air Force service, Jenkins was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Mont., where as a Logistics Readiness Officer he trained personnel and arranged for the transportation of cargo on the base. Jenkins was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force as a first lieutenant in 2007.
Henderson also announced that Kendrick Saunders, who joined the staff in July 2010, will remain as the team's Director of Basketball Operations. He is one of two members of the previous staff who will remain, joining assistant coach Brian Earl '99.
"I'm very pleased that Kendrick will remain on staff," Henderson said. "He provides valuable experience for the program, having worked with the team this past season, and he's great with our players as they know he is dedicated to seeing them be successful."
An announcement on the volunteer coaching position, which will complete Henderson's staff, will come shortly.