Jacque Vaughn has accepted a position as an assistant coach at the University of Kansas, joining the staff of veteran head coach Bill Self, according to an official announcement from the school.
As reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Vaughn declined offers to return to the NBA coaching ranks, opting instead to go back to his roots at Kansas, where he was a standout player and earned All-American honors during his college career.
Vaughn, who spent 12 seasons in the NBA as a point guard for various teams, transitioned into coaching after his playing days, initially as an assistant.
He later held head coaching roles in the NBA, leading the Orlando Magic from 2012 to 2015, and the Brooklyn Nets both as an interim coach after the 2019–2020 season and again from 2022 to 2024.
Over his head coaching tenure, Vaughn compiled a 129–226 regular season record. However, his performance with the Nets was notably stronger, achieving a 71–68 record and guiding the team to two postseason appearances.
“I’ve known Jacque from a distance for several years now and have always admired how he has conducted himself professionally and how he has treated people,” Self said in a statement.
“I think he will be an excellent addition to our program, while also serving as a great mentor, coach and representative of Kansas basketball. We lost an awesome coach in Norm (Roberts) when he retired but feel very fortunate to have replaced him with a tremendous Jayhawk that has a unique and impressive resume.”
Jacque Vaughn Forgoes NBA, Joins Kansas Staff https://t.co/n7OuHfOjk5 pic.twitter.com/VxpG2mPPfz
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 22, 2025
