ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca College has announced the hiring of Jon Tanous as the men's basketball assistant coach. Tanous held the role in an interim capacity since September 2011, when he replaced Nevada Smith who was named head coach at Keystone. 

"We are pleased to have Jon join us as a full time assistant in our men's basketball program,” Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports Ken Kutler said. “Jon served as an interim assistant coach this past season and did a great job helping head coach Jim Mullins lead our team to an Empire 8 Tournament Championship and NCAA postseason play."

Tanous previously served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Potsdam. During his six-season tenure with the Bears, he was involved in all aspects of the program. Tanous recruited and coached 14 SUNYAC All-Academic selections and five All-SUNYAC honorees.

A four-year shooting guard for the Bears, Tanous helped Potsdam to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament as it reached the "sweet sixteen" in 2004 and the "elite eight" in 2005.

A Liberty, N.Y. native, Tanous graduated with a degree in elementary education before earning his master's in technology education in 2008.

He is an active member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Basketball Coaches Association of New York.