Jean Demosthenes enters his second year as the head coach of the Parkland College Women’s Basketball program in the 2024-25 season. In his first year as head coach during the 2023-2024 season, he led the Cobras to their first NJCAA tournament appearance since 2017, finishing with a record of 26-7. Under his leadership, Alyssa Cole earned All-American honors, while other players received accolades such as 2nd Team All-Conference and Co-Freshman of the Year. Additionally, Demosthenes was voted Region 24 Coach of the Year.
Originally from Orlando, Florida, Demosthenes served as an assistant coach under Laura Litchfield during the 2022-23 season, helping the Cobras achieve a 23-5 record and a #14 ranking by the NJCAA. With 20 years of coaching experience, he played a crucial role in recruiting the Cobras' 2023 class.
Demosthenes graduated from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando before attending Illinois State University on a football scholarship, where he played as a defensive back from 1992 to 1995. He also participated in intramural basketball during his time at Illinois State. As the founder and director of recruiting for the Central Illinois AAU Gators Boys & Girls teams, he established the first AAU girls’ basketball program in Bloomington, Illinois, in 2009. He previously served as the head coach for the Peoria Warriors boys AAU team and was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Urbana High School from 2016 to 2018 under Chris Menning, who won a state championship at St. Thomas More and has coached at the University of Illinois, ASU, and Illinois State University.
Demosthenes has been heavily involved in coaching across all the AAU circuits and has built strong relationships with college coaches nationwide. He also attended the University of Illinois Gies College of Business, where he earned an M.B.A. in Business Administration. Jean Demosthenes and his wife, Jennifer, have four children: three daughters and one son.
Updated November 2024
