Jean Prioleau enters his fourth year with the University of Colorado men's basketball coaching staff bringing a wealth of expertise on and off the court in making the Buffaloes program one of the elite teams in the Pac-12 Conference.

In his three years in Boulder, Prioleau has helped the Buffaloes enjoy their finest seasons to date with back-to-back 24-win campaigns in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, and a 21-win season in 2012-13. In 2011-12 and 2012-13, CU earned NCAA Tournament berths in back-to-back years for the first time in 50 years (1961-62 & 1962-63).

Prioleau also helped the Buffaloes to three consecutive 20-wins seasons, a school-first, and the 69 wins are the most victories in any three-year span in school history.

In 2011-2012, Prioleau helped CU earn its first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years, upsetting No. 6 UNLV in the second round and advancing to the third round. At the inaugural Pac-12 Conference tournament, the Buffs became just the 10th team in the nation to win at least four games in four days to capture the tournament title (a CU first since winning the Big 8 in 1968-69).

Over the last three seasons, a number of student-athletes have earned conference accolades. In CU's last year of the Big 12 Conference, Alec Burks (first team, Big 12 All-Tournament team), Cory Higgins (second team), Levi Knutson (co-sixth man) all earned honors in 2010-11.

In their first year of the Pac-12, Andre Roberson (first team, All-Defensive, All-Tournament team), Carlon Brown (second team, tournament Most Outstanding Player), and Spencer Dinwiddie (freshman team) were named all-conference. In year two of the conference, Roberson (first team, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defensive team); Dinwiddie (first team) and Josh Scott (All-Freshman team) earned post-season accolades.

Prior to his arrival to CU, Prioleau was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas Christian University from 2008-2010. With the Horned Frogs, Prioleau not only served as the program's recruiting coordinator, but also was responsible for working with the TCU guards. Prioleau guided the development of TCU freshman Ronnie Moss as he became the first freshman since the 2001-2002 campaign to average double-digits as well as the progression of guards Edvinas Ruzgas and Keion Mitchem.

Prior to TCU, Prioleau spent two years on the coaching staff at Iowa State (2006-2008) where he helped the Cyclones record 29 victories during his time. In his two seasons, the Cyclones had three All-Big 12 Conference performers in Mike Taylor, Wesley Johnson and Jiri Hubalek. All three were ranked in the top-100 among in a pair of defensive categories.

Soon after accepting the position at Iowa State, Prioleau played an instrumental role in signing one of the top players for the Cyclones in Wesley Johnson. The 6-7 forward from Corsicana, Texas, proved to be a valuable find for the Cyclones as he garnered All-Big 12 Rookie Team accolades as well as honorable mention freshman All-American laurels during the 2006-2007 campaign.

Prior to joining the Iowa State program, Prioleau spent the 2005-2006 season as an assistant coach under former Marquette head coach and current Indiana University head coach Tom Crean. In his lone season with the Golden Eagles, Marquette recorded a 20-11 overall record and a 10-6 mark in Big East Conference en route to securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Prioleau was part of a Marquette program that ranked 11th in the country in three-point field goal percentage, 22nd in three-point field goals made per game and 43rd in the nation in scoring offense in his lone campaign. That season, Prioleau watched as the Golden Eagles posted victories over a trio of nationally-ranked opponents, including a 94-79 triumph over top-ranked UConn.

Before his stint with Marquette, Prioleau spent five seasons on the coaching staff at Wichita State (2000-2005) where he played a vital role in the resurgence and success of the Shockers in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Shockers earned a berth in the National Invitation Tournament on three occasions during Prioleau's tenure. During his five-year tenure, the Shockers never finished below a .500 overall or conference mark while winning 18 or more games in four of five seasons. The Shockers collected 94 total victories during Prioleau's tenure, including a pair of 20-win seasons in each of his final two campaigns with the program.

In addition to signing the top recruiting class in 2001 in the Missouri Valley Conference, Prioleau helped ink Sean Ogirri (Colorado Player of the Year), Paul Miller (2006 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and 2001 Freshman of the Year), Jamar Howard (Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year) and Randy Burns (Missouri Valley Conference Rookie of the Year).

"Jean has grown tremendously in this business in a very short period of time and what I like about him, the fact he's not only a good recruiter, a good basketball coach, he has a great basketball mind," Boyle said. "He's the full package in terms that some guys are labeled one thing or another, but he's got all the goods. I'm really fortunate to have him. He's been in the Big 12, the Big East, the Mountain West, so he knows this level of basketball and he's well-connected throughout the country."

During his professional career, Prioleau played in both domestic and international territories with stints coming in the USBL and CBA as well as pre-season training camps for the NBA's New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. He also spent time overseas where he competed in Turkey, Italy and Switzerland. Following his graduation, Prioleau played professionally for the USBL's Long Island Surf prior to attending training camp for the Indiana Pacers Rookie/Free Agent Summer League. Prioleau was invited to the Pacers' veteran camp where he was the final cut made by the team one day prior to the start of the season.

In 1992-1993, Prioleau played for Yakima of the CBA before rejoining the Surf that summer. Prioleau made his second appearance at the Indiana Pacers' veteran camp before competing for Grand Rapids and Sioux Falls of the CBA. The following summer, he played for the New Jersey Nets' summer league team then signed a professional contract in Switzerland during the 1994-1995 season.

Prioleau began his coaching career at his alma mater - Fordham University - following an eight-year professional basketball career. During the 1999-00 campaign, Fordham recorded a 14-15 overall record and a 7-9 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference action in the lone season with Prioleau on the coaching staff. That season, Duke Freeman-McKamey was selected as the Most Improved Player in the Atlantic 10 Conference while Bevon Robin earned third team all-conference accolades.

A former standout at Fordham, Prioleau was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 after concluding his career ranked second in all-time steals and assists, third in free throw percentage, fourth in field goals made and sixth in scoring. Prioleau guided the Rams to back-to-back Patriot League titles, including hitting the game-winning three-pointer in the 1992 Patriot League Championship Game.

The Rams advanced to the NCAA Tournament during the 1991-92 season for the first time since the 1971 campaign while Prioleau was selected as a first team All-Patriot League selection. He also guided the Rams to a pair of NIT Tournament appearances during the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons, including a 25-8 overall record during his junior campaign.

A 1992 graduate of Fordham University with a degree in physics, Prioleau is a member of both the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) and BCA (Black Coaches Association).

After his collegiate career, Prioleau was the last cut of the Indiana Pacers as an undrafted rookie in the fall of 1992. From there he would play professionally with the Yakima Sun Kings of the Continental Basketball Association. In the fall of 1995, he once again tried the NBA, only to be the last cut of the New York Knicks. Prioleau would then finish his pro career in Turkey and Italy.

Prioleau and his wife, Janelle, have a son, Elijah, born January 2011.