WINONA, Minn. — A former Winona State basketball player whose pedigree includes two national collegiate championships, Jonte Flowers, will be coaching girls basketball at Winona High School. Most recently Flowers has coached at the south Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville. At Winona Flowers has hit the ground running. He has scheduled a training camp for boys and girls in Grade 3 through Grade 12 in the fall. Flowers is one of the best basketball players in Winona State history. He scored 1,882 points during a four-year career. He collected nine different All-America honors and two national championships. After Winona State he played professionally overseas, then into coaching at Burnsville. His move to Winona worked out for family reasons. His wife Jennifer was named athletic director at Winona State in May. Jennifer Flowers herself was a Winona State athlete who twice named to an all-conference volleyball dream teams. At Winona High, Jonte Flowers replaces Tim Gleason, who stepped down after 31 seasons, including 19 as the head coach. Gleason’s teams appeared in two state championship games.
Verbatim
Flowers: “Being back gives me the chance to reconnect with old relationships while building new ones, and I’m excited to contribute to the community in a meaningful way. What really excites me is the chance to make an impact on the next generation — helping young athletes grow not just in basketball, but in confidence, character and leadership. That starts with setting clear expectations, and building a culture of accountability.”
Flowers. Now has retired the black and gold of the Burnsville Blazes for Winhawk black and orange. Holds a 2003 teaching degree from Winona State.