Illinois Athletics Press Release
July 18, 2023
Kwa Jones courtesy of Illinois Athletics
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Tuesday the hiring of Kwa Jones as director of recruiting and scouting.
A former graduate manager for the Fighting Illini, Jones returns to Champaign after two years of continued growth in the coaching profession. He spent the recent 2022-23 season as director of operations at Stephen F. Austin, with many duties including travel, meals, team scheduling and planning recruiting visits.
That followed serving as a video coaching associate in 2021-22 with the Sacramento Kings, where he specialized in film and assisted with player development.
Jones spent two years on Underwood's staff as graduate manager during the successful 2020 and 2021 seasons. Illinois went a combined 29-11 in conference play during his tenure, earning a final AP ranking of No. 21 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign and leading the Big Ten in wins while adding the Big Ten Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in 2021.
"We are thrilled to welcome Kwa back to the Illinois Basketball family" Underwood said. "He is a relationship-driven coach who makes impactful connections with players in every program he has been a part of, and his passion and love for the game of basketball is contagious. Kwa has added to his portfolio since he was last here, with great experiences with the Kings and at SFA. He has earned this opportunity and will be a great asset to us in scouting and recruiting."
Jones is a native of Nacogdoches, Texas. He is a 2019 graduate of the University of Houston, with a bachelor's degree in sports administration. While at Houston, he was an on-court student manager for the Cougars. Jones earned his master's degree in recreation, sport, and tourism from the University of Illinois in 2021.
Portal Kombat – March 30, 2025 Edition - #476
ListenMar 28 - Hr2 - S4Ep33 - Illini Seasons End
ListenMar 28 - Hr1 - S4Ep33 - Illini Seasons End
ListenIllinois Fighting Illini Men’s Season Ends with Loss to Kentucky Wildcats - #475
ListenIllinois Fighting Illini Women Win First NCAA Tourney Game Since March 2000 - #474
ListenMar 21 - Hr2 - S4Ep32 - Illini in NCAA Tourney
ListenMar 21 - Hr1 - S4Ep32 - Illini in NCAA Tourneys
ListenIllinois Fighting Illini 86-73 NCAA Tourney Victory over Xavier - #473
ListenIlliniGuys NCAA Tournament Selection Bracket Breakdown Show - #472
ListenIllinois Fighting Illini Smashed by Maryland Terrapins in the B1G Tourney - #471
ListenIllinois Fighting Illini Defeat Iowa Hawkeyes in B1G Tourney Opener - #470
ListenThe Next 5 Years Are the Most Important in the History of Illini Athletics
ListenIlliniGuys B1G Men’s Basketball Tournament Preview - #469
ListenMar 7 - Hr2 - S4Ep30 - Floyd Mayweather, Jimmy Johnson, Serena, LeBron & Game Predictions
ListenMar 7 - Hr1 - S4Ep30 - Illini vs Purdue, Illini Women in B1G Tourney, Illini NIL & the Next Cinderella
Listen