Mississippi State is hiring New Mexico State coach Chris Jans to take over its program next season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
No deal is finalized yet, but it is expected to be done quickly.
Jans will take Ben Howland’s spot after he was fired on Thursday by Mississippi State. The Bulldogs went 18-16 this season, and eventually lost in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday to Virginia.
Mississippi State reached the NCAA tournament just once in seven seasons under Howland, a first-round loss to Liberty in 2019.