Jason Jesperson chosen to lead Eau Claire Memorial girls basketball team

The last name Jesperson has history at Eau Claire Memorial High School.

Just a year ago, former Old Abe Cooper Jesperson completed a standout high school career on the basketball court and the baseball diamond.

He was named Leader-Telegram Senior Male Athlete of the Year. Jesperson is now playing baseball at Kansas State University.

Now, a newer and older Jesperson will look to write his name in Memorial’s record books.

Memorial announced Thursday morning that Jason Jesperson, Cooper’s father, will take over as the new head coach for the Old Abe girls basketball program.

“Jason is well respected by his coaching colleagues and brings tremendous passion for developing players,” Memorial Athletic Director Travis Hedtke said via a release. “His experience and ability to build relationships will have a positive impact on our girls basketball program.”

Jason Jesperson’s basketball resume speaks for itself.

Jesperson previously served as a varsity assistant coach of the Memorial boys basketball program from 2023-25, helping coach his son and the Old Abes to two conference titles and a regional title in 2025.

Before then, he spent time at UW-Eau Claire (2011-12), served as a program director and coach for the Wisconsin Playmakers AAU team (2006-16) and had long-term involvement with Eau Claire Eagles Basketball as both a coach and board member from 2018-24.

Jesperson also brings a wealth of student-athlete knowledge, as he played college basketball from 1995-98 at Mayville State University in North Dakota.

Jesperson takes over a successful Old Abe girls program that spent the past 13 seasons under coach Brandon Fanning, who departed Memorial last month to coach at UW-Eau Claire.

Fanning led the Old Abes to Big Rivers Conference titles in 2016 and 2025, won three regional titles and advanced to the sectional finals in 2025.

Memorial ended its season in the regional finals this past year despite losing star sophomore and future UW-Green Bay guard Norah Kling to injury at the beginning of February.

The Old Abes will lose five seniors from the team to graduation.

Yet, Jason Jesperson will bring back a very talented group to the hardwood next winter led by Ava Hoitomt, Ava McCarthy and Evelyn Bast with hopes of Kling’s return in late December.