Fired Bowling Green coach apologizes for ‘inappropriate’ behavior

Chris Jans, fired last week after one year as coach at Bowling Green, apologized Friday for the “inappropriate” behavior that led to his dismissal.

In a statement, Jans said, “On March 21st I made a mistake for which I sincerely apologize. After our final loss of the season I went to a bar to be amongst friends, became intoxicated and proceeded to act in a manner which was inappropriate.”

Bowling Green fired Jans on April 2 after an investigation into the incident. The school’s termination letter said Jans, a married father of two, admitted touching two women inappropriately and calling a third woman a derogatory name when she confronted him about his behavior.

“I have tried to instill in every student I’ve coached the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions, and that is what I am trying to do now,” Jans said Friday. “I have been completely forthcoming and honest with the Bowling Green State University administration during this process. I immediately made efforts to apologize to those offended that evening, including the woman who approached me that night to chastise me for my conduct.

“Although I have already apologized to my wife, my family, my players and coaches, I want to now publicly apologize to everyone else, including anyone in the BGSU community who may have been affected by this matter — I am truly sorry.”

Jans said he will “use the future months and years to improve myself as an individual and to show them that their faith in me as a coach, and a person, was not unwarranted.”

The university does not plan to honor the remaining five years and $1.6 million of his contract.

He was hired after spending the previous six seasons as an assistant at Wichita State.

Bowling Green was 21-12 last season, with a 12-7 record in the Mid-American Conference.

Assistant Mark Downey will serve as interim coach while Bowling Green searches for a replacement.