Former Georgia Southern Men's Basketball player Jelani Hewitt was recently hired as an assistant coach at Chicago State University under Men's Basketball Head Coach Gerald Gillion.

Hewitt holds Georgia Southern records records for career steals (252) and three-point field goals made (270). He is second all-time in free throws made (394) and seventh all-time in the Division 1 era in career points (1,810). As a junior (2013-14), Hewitt was named All-SoCon by the coaches and, as a senior, was first-team All Sun-Belt and the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

Georgia Southern Athletics caught up with him after the announcement to see how Georgia Southern has impacted his career since graduating. 

What was the moment where you decided to get into coaching? Was it once Coach Gillion contacted you, or had you made the decision before then that you wanted to go into coaching now? Or was it something that you always wanted to get into? 
 
Coaching is always something I wanted to pursue. I've always had a natural knack for leadership, so accepting this opportunity was right in my wheelhouse. 
 
What's the transition like from being a player to being a coach? What sort of lessons or personal anecdotes can you bring over?
 
The transition has definitely been an adjustment, but I'm having fun. I'm working alongside a group of guys who challenge, yet support me as I'm learning the ropes, so it's a great environment to develop my coaching skills. I'm seeing a different side of the game now, but my first-hand experience as a hooper has equipped me with the tools to take on the responsibility of Player Development for our program and I'm looking forward to the journey.
 
How do you think playing for Georgia Southern prepared you to play overseas and eventually to be a coach? 
 
Playing at GSU gave me the confidence to go up against some of the best in the country and eventually the world... proving that no matter what obstacles we face, playing with heart and putting in the work can take us just as far as raw talent will. 
 
What sort of things do you take from your coaches and other players that you played with, whether it was from GS or from overseas?
 
I learned a lot from my coaches at GSU, Coach CY (Charlton Young) and Coach Mark Byington. CY taught me the importance of relentless defense and playing with tenacity. Byington is a players first coach and holds guys accountable on and off the court, those are some things I will take with me throughout my coaching career. 
 
What are some things you want to instill on your players?
 
Mental toughness, accountability and to be winners on and off the court. 
 
Did you talk to anyone from your GS or international days after getting the job to ask for advice? If you did, what did people say to you?
 
Yes of course! My teammate Willie Powers (currently coaching at FAMU) was excited for me and said it would be an easy transition for me because of my understanding of the game. My teammate Eric Ferguson (currently playing overseas) said this was a surreal moment, we came into GSU together and used to talk about coaching when we were done hooping - so things are really coming full circle. Coach CY was so proud of me and even said he shed a few tears. Coach Byington was also happy for me, stating that coaching won't even feel like work because he knows how much I love the game. I'm going to be a natural leader for these young men.
 
How did your time as a student-athlete at GS prepare you not just for a coaching career, but through life? What sort of lessons did you take from having to juggle sport and study? 
 
Being a student-athlete at GSU taught me to be accountable. I had to use my time wisely because student-athletes have very demanding schedules. It conditioned me to understand the importance of planning and preparing for each day. I'm also still very goal-driven - so I push myself to be better every day, as a dad, husband and in my career.