The NBA coach, who has become the athlete, returns home: Jacque Vaughn kicks Kansas Staff.

Jacque VaughnThe University of Kansas has made a significant addition to its basketball coach employees with the hiring of Alumnus Jacque Vaughn.

Vaughn returns to Kansas as a co -coach under Bill Self and is the first former NBA head coach to join the Jayhawks coaching team.

Vaughn has more than 15 years of NBA trainer experience after working for both the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets as head coach. During his coaching-office, he looked after NBA All-Stars such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons as well as the former Kansas players Markieff Morris and Jalen Wilson.

“We are very happy to welcome Jacque and Laura in the wrinkle,” said Self. “I have known Jacque from a distance for several years and have always admired how he led professionally and how he treated humans.”

Vaughn's Kansas career from 1993 to 1997 established him as one of the program's most extraordinary student athletes. He completed his college career as head of the BIG Eight Conference ever with 804 assists and received the award of the second team during his senior season under Roy Williams while maintaining extraordinary academic standards.

His scientific achievements were just as impressive and achieved academic all-American first team selection in 1996 and 1997. In particular, Vaughn received the 1997 academic all-American of the Year Prize and was the only Kansas player Cole Aldrich who received this prestigious national recognition. He was also honored by him by Diverse With Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar-athlete Award in 1996, which stipulates his status as a model for student athletes nationwide.

Following his collegiate career, vaughn was drafted 27th overall by the utah jazz in 1997 and enjoyed a 12-season nba playing career that included Stops with teams and culminated in an nba championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007. He transitioned to coaching as at Assistant with San Antonio Becoming Head Coach of the Orlando Magic in 2012, Later Leading the Brooklyn Nets to Playoff Appearances in 2020 and 2023.

“I am really honored and overwhelmed by the excitement to return to my Alma Mater,” said Vaughn. “I couldn't give the opportunity to bring these experiences back to school, which means so much to me.”

Vaughn replaces Norm Roberts, which recently retired and is a strong example of how academic excellence and sporting achievements can create ways for the continued leadership in university formation.