Jason Hart Leaves Kentucky for SMU

On March 25, Kentucky men's basketball assistant coach Jason Hart is leaving the program to

join SMU as associate head coach under Andy Nfield.

The two previously worked together at USC and Hart's move was first reported late Tuesday

by CBS Sports Insider John Rothstein.

Hart came to Kentucky last year after leading the NBA G league night team until it folded

in 2024.

Before that, he spent years on staff at USC starting in 2013, rising to associate head

coach by 2017.

He brings a solid basketball resume, including a playing career with one season on the Milwaukee

Bucks alongside current Kentucky head coach Mark.

Pope Hart also has strong ties from earlier assistant work at Pepperdine and excels as

a recruiter.

Rumors linked him to Pepperdine's open head coaching job, but those turned out to be

false.

One clear yet, how his departure might affect Kentucky's pursuits of top talents like

former number one recruit, Tyron Stokes, or G-League Guard Dink, Pade.

Kentucky wrapped up its most recent season at 22 wins and 14 losses, bowing out in the

second round of the NCAA tournament, and they'll keep an eye on staff changes as recruiting

heats up.