Bio

JASON SAUTTER enters his 4th year as the Head Coach for Seward County in 2020-21.

In the 2018-19 season, Coach Sautter brought the Saints to the National Tournament and came in ranked 7^th in the Nation. The Saints went 28-6 in the regular season with a school-record of the most wins versus Conference opponents (21). The Saints won the Region IV by beating rival Hutchinson Community College 81–76 to punch their ticket to the National Tournament. Coach Sautter was named District VI coach of the year, and Jayhawk West Conference coach of the year.

Having 3 players became All-Region, and All-Conference and another player being named Defensive Player of the year provided great versatility throughout the season. With Isiah Small being named Honorable Mention All American team. Small averaged 15 pts/g, 62% FG %, and averaged 6 rebounds a game. Isiah Small moved on to Texas State to continue his basketball career.

In his first season in Liberal, Sautter took over a program that finished last (14th place) in the Jayhawk West in 2017 and pushed them to an 8th place finish with a completely new squad of 11 freshmen and just two sophomores.. The Saints earned their first home playoff game in four years, defeating Butler 63-61 to advance to the Region VI Tournament Quarterfinals for the first time since 2015. Seward finished 18-14 on the season, a nine-win improvement from the previous year while finishing .500 in conference play for the first time since 2014. Sautter's signature defense came in to play quickly in his first year on the job as the Saints led the Jayhawk West in points against, allowing just 66.1 points per game. 

His return to Liberal came after a one-year stint as an assistant coach with the Rochester Razorsharks of the Premier Basketball League in New York, helping the 'Sharks to a 16-2 regular-season record and a PBL Championship. While there, he coached the 2017 PBL Rookie of the Year, John Ivy.

Previous to his time with the 'Sharks, Sautter spent two years at the Division I level as an assistant coach for the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). In his first year with the Kangaroos in 2013-14, he helped the team to a fifth-place finish in the WAC, and the fourth seed in the conference tournament, both of which were the highest since 2006 at UMKC.

One of the first recruits, Martez Harrison, was named WAC Freshman of the Year,  averaging 17.2 points per game, and setting numerous freshman records at UMKC. Sautter helped the 'Roos reached their highest seed at the WAC tournament in 10 seasons as well as seeing their first player in program history reach AP All-American status.

Sautter spent two seasons with Seward County in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, helping lead the Saints to a Jayhawk West Conference Championship in both seasons.  Sautter helped Seward to 56 wins in his two seasons in Liberal, including a 31 win campaign in his first year.  The Saints captured the Jayhawk West crown and won the Region VI Championship in 2011-2012 with Sautter on the bench.  Seward went on to finish 3^rdat the NJCAA National Tournament and sophomore Deverell Biggs was named Jayhawk West MVP and a 1^st Team NJCAA All-American. 

In his second season with the Saints, Seward went 14-2 in Jayhawk West play to capture another title behind All-American guard Kaheem Ransom. 

Prior to joining Seward, Sautter was the head coach at Western Texas College, posting a 55-30 record over three seasons. The program returned to the NJCAA regional championships after being absent for 27 years and led his team to an NJCAA national ranking for the first time in 30 years. He also led his team to the No. 1 defensive ranking in the country during the 2010-11 season.

Sautter was the Associate Coach at Howard College before his stop at Western Texas. He helped lead the program to a 112-23 record during his four-year tenure. During the 2005-06 season, Sautter assisted the Hawks to a 35-2 record, a No. 1 national ranking, and the WJCAC Conference Championship.

In his first two seasons at Howard, Sautter was a part of a staff that led the team to a combined record of 62-8. During his tenure at Howard, Sautter recruited and helped coach the NJCAA Player of the Year, Region V MVP, WJCAC Player of the Year, and a First Team All-American, as well as four all-region players, and 14 all-conference players.

Prior to his days at Howard, Sautter had a brief stint at Lincoln University during the 2003-04 season as the assistant coach. Before he arrived at Lincoln, he served as a graduate assistant at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. During the 2002-03 season, Harding had a record of 21-9, while making the GSC Tournament and the NCAA-II National Tournament.

From 1999-2001, Sautter was the Head Boys Basketball and Baseball Coach at Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, Mo. Along with the coaching abilities, he was recognized for his teaching achievements there.

Sautter has a Masters of Education from Harding University and a Bachelor of Arts from York College. He and his wife Jacy have three children, sons Jacob and Jadon, and daughter Jordyn.