Kentucky Hires Jackson State's Mo Williams as Assistant Coach After Son Commits

The former NBA star is joining Mark Pope's staff just days after his son, Mason Williams, committed to the Wildcats.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape representing the dynamic action on the court.The hiring of Mo Williams as an assistant coach at Kentucky adds an experienced former NBA player to the Wildcats' staff and could impact the team's pursuit of top 2026 recruit Tyran Stokes.Jackson Today

Kentucky has hired Jackson State head coach Mo Williams as an assistant under Mark Pope's staff, the school announced on Monday. The move comes just days after Williams's son, Mason Williams, a four-star recruit in the 2026 class, committed to play for the Wildcats. Williams is stepping down from his head coaching role at Jackson State, where he has spent the last four seasons.

Why it matters

The hiring of Mo Williams is seen as a key move for Kentucky, as it not only adds an experienced former NBA player to the coaching staff, but also helps secure the commitment of his highly touted son, Mason Williams. This addition to the coaching staff could also impact Kentucky's pursuit of Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked player in the 2026 class, as the Wildcats look to build a powerhouse recruiting class.

The details

Mo Williams, who played 13 seasons in the NBA, has been a head coach for the past six years, including the last four at Jackson State. During his time as the head coach of the Tigers, he compiled a 69-109 record. Williams is now leaving Jackson State to join Mark Pope's staff at Kentucky, just days after his son, Mason Williams, a four-star recruit in the 2026 class, committed to play for the Wildcats. The timing of Williams's hiring also comes amid Kentucky being in the mix to land Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class.

  • On Monday, March 30, 2026, Kentucky announced the hiring of Mo Williams as an assistant coach.
  • Just days before the announcement, Mo Williams's son, Mason Williams, committed to play for Kentucky in the 2026 recruiting class.

The players

Mo Williams

A former NBA player who has spent the last four seasons as the head coach of the Jackson State men's basketball program. He is now joining Mark Pope's staff at Kentucky as an assistant coach.

Mason Williams

The son of Mo Williams, a four-star recruit in the 2026 class who recently committed to play for Kentucky.

Mark Pope

The head coach of the Kentucky men's basketball team, who is adding Mo Williams to his coaching staff.

Tyran Stokes

The top-ranked player in the 2026 recruiting class, who is being recruited by Kentucky, among other top programs.

Jason Hart

A former Kentucky assistant coach who recently departed the program to join Andy Enfield's staff at SMU.

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What they’re saying

“I want to thank Ashley Robinson for giving me the opportunity to come back home and lead the Jackson State men's basketball program. To be able to come back to Jackson and lead the hometown team is something I did not take lightly.”

— Mo Williams, Former Jackson State Head Coach

What’s next

Kentucky will look to leverage the addition of Mo Williams to its coaching staff to help secure the commitment of top recruit Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the 2026 class. The Wildcats will also aim to build on the momentum of landing Mason Williams, Mo's son, in their 2026 recruiting class.

The takeaway

The hiring of Mo Williams as an assistant coach at Kentucky represents a savvy move by the Wildcats, as they not only add an experienced former NBA player to their staff, but also secure the commitment of his highly touted son, Mason Williams. This move could have far-reaching implications for Kentucky's recruiting efforts, particularly in their pursuit of the top-ranked player in the 2026 class, Tyran Stokes.