Jason Hart will not be returning to Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball for the 2026–27 season, as he is set to take on the role of associate head coach at SMU Mustangs men’s basketball after completing two seasons with Kentucky. The news was first reported by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Head coach Mark Pope originally brought Hart onto the staff in April 2024, shortly after taking over the program. A former NBA point guard, Hart signed a two-year deal and played a key role in assembling the roster during Pope’s first season. He also worked closely with the team’s guards and was instrumental in recruiting top prospect Tyran Stokes.
Stokes, a highly regarded 6-foot-7 forward and the No. 1 player in the 2026 recruiting class, remains a major target for Kentucky despite the program currently having no high school commitments for next season. Originally from Louisville, he played his senior year across multiple locations, including California and Seattle, where Kentucky coaches maintained close contact. While no decision timeline has been announced, several top programs are also pursuing him.
Hart also helped establish Kentucky’s early connection with Dink Pate, a G League guard expected to gain NCAA eligibility. Pate previously played for the G League Ignite team when Hart served as head coach there.
Before joining Kentucky, Hart had an extensive coaching résumé. He worked in high school and AAU basketball in Los Angeles, spent time as an assistant at Pepperdine, and later joined USC Trojans men’s basketball under Andy Enfield—now the head coach at SMU—where he stayed for eight seasons and rose to associate head coach. Hart also enjoyed a 10-year NBA playing career after starring at Syracuse.
Hart, 47, earned $500,000 in his first season at Kentucky and $525,000 in his second. His departure comes amid expected staff changes following Kentucky’s 22–14 campaign, which ended with a loss to Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball in the NCAA Tournament round of 32.
Several other assistants, including Alvin Brooks III and Cody Fueger, are also on expiring deals, while Mark Fox has been working on one-year contracts. Meanwhile, Mikhail McLean is currently the only assistant coach under contract through the 2026–27 season.
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