Emporia State head coach MJ Baker has announced the addition of two assistant coaches to the Lady Hornet basketball program. Taylor Jones and Josh Boland will join Baker on the sidelines at White Auditorium this season.
“Adding Taylor Jones to our staff is a huge win. She’s one of the most brilliant minds in the game—elite in player development, tireless in her work ethic, and someone I trust completely,” said Baker. “As a head coach, that trust means everything. We’ve been in the mud together at Eastern Florida for two years, and there’s no doubt she made me and our program better every single day.”
Jones follows Baker to Emporia State after spending the previous two years at Eastern Florida. Over the last two seasons the Titans went 49-14 with a 34-5 record in conference play including an undefeated 21-0 conference record in 2023-24. Jones was at Eastern Florida for two seasons, appearing in 28 games as a sophomore. She finished her career in NCAA Division II at Lynn University of the Sunshine State Conference averaging 10.4 points per game in her final collegiate season.
“I’m incredibly honored to join the Emporia State Women’s Basketball program as an assistant coach,” said Jones. “This is a storied program with a tradition of excellence, and I’m excited to contribute to the growth and success of our student-athletes on and off the court. I look forward to continuing working alongside Coach MJ and being part of the Lady Hornet family.”
Boland comes to Emporia State after serving as an assistant at Johnson County CC, Pittsburg State and Henderson State since 2014.
“Bringing Josh Boland on staff is a big-time addition for our program,” said Baker. “Coming from a championship culture at Johnson County, he’s a relentless student of the game and one of the hardest workers you’ll find. There’s no question—we got better the day Josh joined us.”
Over two stints with Johnson County CC, Boland spent six seasons on the Lady Cavaliers bench winning two national championships with another NJCAA runner-up finish. He was on the bench for JCCC’s national championship last season after serving on the staff at Henderson State. The Reddies went 20-12, won the GAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24. He stepped away from coaching from 2021-23 and served as an admissions counselor for Drury and Kansas State. He was on the staff of MIAA member Pittsburg State as a student assistant from 2019-21. He began his coaching career at Johnson County CC in 2014-15. In his first five seasons, JCCC went 150-19 while winning the 2015 NJCAA national Championships, finishing second in 2017 and picking up two Jayhawk Conference titles. The Overland Park, Kan. native was a student manager at Johnson County from 2008-11 with the Cavaliers going 81-23 with three Region VI Division II titles.
“This is a great opportunity here at ESU. I’m excited to be a part of the tradition of excellence that is Lady Hornet Basketball,” said Boland. “I have immense respect for Coach MJ and Coach Tay and couldn’t be more excited to work with and grow as a coach with them. I couldn’t thank Coach (Ben) Conrad at JCCC enough for the opportunity he gave me in my coaching career along with Coach (Jill) Thomas at Henderson State and Coach (Amanda) Davied at Pitt State.”
MJ Baker will be in her first season with the Lady Hornets in 2025-26. She comes to Emporia State after an eight year run at Eastern Florida State College. She went 183-58 with three conference championships and three trips to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament during her time in Florida.
