Kentucky Wildcats Lose Another Assistant Coach

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Kentucky basketball announced that associate head coach Alvin Brooks III will not be returning to the coaching staff next season. This comes just days after the program lost its main recruiter, Jason Hart, who is leaving for SMU. Coach Mark Pope will now need to fill two assistant coaching positions and find new staff members who can both land elite recruits and improve the team's defense.

Why it matters

Kentucky is one of the premier college basketball programs, but the team struggled this past season. Bringing in the right assistant coaches will be crucial for Coach Pope to get the Wildcats back to an elite level and compete for championships.

The details

Alvin Brooks III's contract was not renewed, signaling that Coach Pope wants to take the coaching staff in a new direction. The new assistants will need to be strong recruiters capable of landing top-tier talent, as well as defensive specialists who can transform Kentucky into an elite defensive team.

• On March 24, 2026, it was announced that associate head coach Alvin Brooks III would not be returning to Kentucky's staff next season.
• Earlier in the week, it was revealed that Kentucky's main recruiter, Jason Hart, was leaving the program to take an assistant coaching job at SMU.

What’s next

Coach Pope will need to quickly fill the two open assistant coaching positions before the transfer portal opens on April 7th. He will be looking for coaches who can both recruit elite talent and improve the team's defense.