Waterford Mott Alum Jeff Jayson Named New Macomb CC Men's Basketball Coach

Jayson leaves his alma mater to take over one of Michigan's top junior college programs.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:52am

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A fragmented, multi-angled painting depicting a basketball game or match, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a palette of navy, forest green, and burnt orange, conveying the strategic depth and kinetic movement of the sport.The geometric, cubist-inspired illustration captures the strategic complexity and dynamic energy of college basketball, reflecting the new leadership at Macomb Community College.Roseville Today

Jeff Jayson, a Waterford Mott High School graduate and longtime head coach of the Corsairs, has been hired as the new men's basketball head coach at Macomb Community College. Jayson, who played at Aquinas College and has coached at the high school and AAU levels, said the opportunity to lead one of Michigan's premier junior college programs was too good to pass up, despite the difficulty of leaving his alma mater.

Why it matters

Macomb Community College has been one of the top junior college basketball programs in Michigan over the past five years, consistently sending players to the Division I and II levels. Jayson's hiring represents a major coup for the Monarchs as they look to continue their success and development of student-athletes.

The details

Jayson, a 2003 graduate of Waterford Mott, was the head coach of the Corsairs for the past three seasons, leading the team to a 58-15 record, two Lakes Valley Conference titles, and a district championship in 2025. Prior to that, he was an assistant and JV head coach at Mott before coaching AAU basketball with REACH Legends. Jayson said he consulted with former Macomb CC and Roseville coach Hassan Nizam, as well as Gjon Djokaj of Walled Lake Northern and Warren De La Salle, to get a better understanding of the college coaching job before accepting the position.

  • Jayson was hired as Macomb CC's new head men's basketball coach on April 18, 2026.
  • He spent the past three seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, Waterford Mott High School.

The players

Jeff Jayson

A 2003 graduate of Waterford Mott High School who played at Aquinas College, where he was a two-time NAIA All-American. He has been the head coach at Waterford Mott for the past three seasons, leading the Corsairs to a 58-15 record, two conference titles, and a district championship.

Hassan Nizam

The former head coach at Macomb CC and Roseville High School, who is now an assistant at Eastern Michigan University. Jayson consulted with Nizam about the Macomb CC job.

Gjon Djokaj

The former head coach at Walled Lake Northern and Warren De La Salle, who has also coached at Oakland Community College. Jayson leaned on Djokaj, a friend and mentor, for advice about the Macomb CC position.

Bryan Rizzo

The athletic director at Macomb Community College, who said Jayson is a 'proven winner and an outstanding leader' who will be an 'ideal fit' to lead the Monarchs' men's basketball program.

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What they’re saying

“When the job opened up, it was something I thought about, and I put my name in to see what could happen potentially, but I wasn't sure. But I was intrigued by coaching college-level basketball, to get an interview and go through the process of what they were looking for in a coach.”

— Jeff Jayson, Head Men's Basketball Coach, Macomb Community College

“I was very honored (to be hired). Macomb's been successful. It's one of the top, if not the premier Juco in Michigan the last five years. They've had talented kids, team success, and been able to send kids to the D1 and D2 levels. I was honored that they chose me to lead them forward.”

— Jeff Jayson, Head Men's Basketball Coach, Macomb Community College

“Waterford Mott is a special place that will always be home to me. It has been a true honor to lead my alma mater for nine years and I'm incredibly proud of what we accomplished together. Leaving was a difficult decision because of the deep roots I have here.”

— Jeff Jayson, Head Men's Basketball Coach, Macomb Community College

“Jeff is a proven winner and an outstanding leader. His track record of building championship programs, developing players for the next level and prioritizing academics makes him an ideal fit for Macomb. We are excited to have Jeff at the helm of our men's basketball program.”

— Bryan Rizzo, Athletic Director, Macomb Community College

The takeaway

Jayson's move from his alma mater Waterford Mott to take over the men's basketball program at Macomb Community College represents a significant opportunity for the longtime high school coach to make the jump to the college ranks. Macomb CC has been one of the top junior college programs in Michigan, and Jayson's proven track record of building championship teams and developing players should make him an excellent fit to continue the Monarchs' success.