Jillian "JB" Samuels
Coach
Jillian Samuels, a Mesquite native and standout high school athlete from Horn High School, excelled in basketball, averaging 20.4 points, six assists, and four steals per game. During her 2005-2006 season, she earned numerous accolades, including TABC All-State, All-Region, and McDonald’s All-American finalist honors. Ranked #40 nationally and #7 among point guards by Blue Report, Jillian led Texas in three-pointers her senior year.
At Southern Methodist University (2006-2010), Jillian set multiple three-point records, including the NCAA playoff record, and joined SMU’s 1,000-point club. She finished her career as one of the top scorers in program history and helped her senior class tie for the most wins in school history.
After earning a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Midwestern State University in 2012, Jillian began her coaching career as a graduate assistant. She returned to SMU as Assistant Director of Player Development, focusing on recruiting, film analysis, and point guard development.
Jillian continued her collegiate coaching journey at Ole Miss as a video coordinator, creating scout films, marketing videos, and analyzing player development. She later transitioned to high school and middle school leadership roles, serving as a head coach at the 4A-6A level, a middle school Girls Athletic Program Coordinator, and an assistant coach at the 6A level, amassing over a decade of coaching and leadership experience.