Mark Pope adds Jason Hart to Kentucky coaching staff

New Kentucky head basketball coach Mark Pope continues to fill out his coaching staff ahead of his first season at the helm in Lexington. With the program announcing Monday that Pope has hired Jason Hart as an assistant coach to mark the second addition to his staff so far this offseason.

Hart was a standout player during his career and has been in the coaching ranks since 2011, bringing a multitude of experiences with him ahead of his next chapter with the Wildcats.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Big Blue Nation,” Hart said. “I’ve played and coached at every level of basketball and there is not a more passionate fan base than this one. I will give every ounce of energy to our players and this program, and I can’t wait to get started. I want to thank Mitch Barnhart and Mark Pope for their confidence in me, and I want to say a special thanks to my family for their continued support.”

Hart was a standout college player at Syracuse, making the school’s All-Century Team after scoring 1,503 career points with 709 assists (second in program history) and an all-time program-leading 329 steals. Also spending nine seasons in the NBA after being selected with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Jason Hart is everything as a coach that he was as a player,” Pope said. “He has boundless energy. He’s fearless. He is stubborn. But he has endless joy and love for this game and our players.”

“He has all of the grit that you’d expect from a big-time Syracuse point guard, and he earned everything he got in his decade-long NBA career through pure blood, sweat, and tears. Jason is going to win over Kentucky players and Kentucky fans in about 10 seconds. I’m thrilled to welcome Jason, Brandi, and their family to UK.”

After one season as the head coach at Taft High School in California Hart moved up to the college coaching ranks, spending a lone season at Pepperdine as an assistant before becoming a long-time time assistant on USC‘s coaching staff under Andy Enfield.

Half of Hart’s eight seasons with the Trojans were spent as an associate head coach, moving on to become the head coach of the G-League Ignite 2021. A developmental team comprised of players coming out of high school that play versus NBA G League teams.

From head coaching experience to playing experience and even expertise in player development, Hart checks a ton of boxes. As he’ll look to elevate the Wildcats and help Pope bring the program back to their dominant, winning ways this upcoming season.