The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Men's Basketball
Second Season at Texas
Kenya Hunter begins his second season as Assistant Coach at The University of Texas. Hunter brings 28 years of Division I coaching experience to the Texas staff, including four seasons working directly with Sean Miller at Texas (2025-26) and Xavier (2004-07).
During his collegiate coaching career, Hunter has helped 14 teams advance to the NCAA Tournament and two squads reach the postseason NIT. He has also developed 21 players who have seen game action in the NBA.
During Hunter’s first season in Austin in 2025-26, the Longhorns posted a 21-15 overall record (9-9 SEC) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Texas was ranked No. 22 in the final Associated Press poll and No. 24 in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll.
The Longhorns earned a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament but went on a run in the Big Dance earning victories over NC State (68-66) in the First Four, BYU (79-71) in the Round of 64 and No. 12/10 Gonzaga (74-68) in the Round of 32 before falling at the buzzer to No. 8/13 Purdue (79-77) in the Sweet 16. Texas became just the sixth team in NCAA Tournament history to advance from the First Four to the Sweet 16.
The Longhorns averaged 82.8 points per game while converting 48.4-percent from the floor. The 82.8 ppg marked the highest scoring average for Texas since the 1994-95 squad averaged 92.9 ppg and also is the first time the Longhorns have averaged at least 80 ppg since the 2009-10 season (81.2 ppg).
UT’s 48.4-percent FG shooting marked the highest FG percentage since the 1988-89 team hit 48.7-percent. The last Texas team to shoot at least 48-percent from the floor during a full season was in 1994-95 (48.0). According to KenPom, UT ranked 13th nationally in offensive efficiency (124.9). Since KenPom started in 1996-97, the previous best offensive efficiency mark by Texas was 120.6 in 2007-08.
Dailyn Swain was tabbed the SEC Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the five-person All-SEC Second Team. He also was named one of five finalists for the 2026 Julius Erving Award, the annual honor that recognizes the top small forward in the nation.
Per ESPN Research, Swain was the only player in a major conference to lead his team in at least five major statistical categories during the 2025-26 season. He led the Longhorns in scoring (17.3 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg), assists (129), steals (59) and minutes (32.8 mpg). Following the year, Swain was selected as the No. 15 pick in the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.
Matas Vokietaitis joined Swain on the NABC All-Gulf District Teams, as Swain was selected to the first team and Vokietaitis garnered mention on the second team. During his four NCAA Tournament contests, Vokietaitis averaged 16.0 ppg and a team-best 8.8 rpg while hitting 54.5-percent (24-44) from the floor in 28.0 mpg. According to KenPom, he ranked third nationally in free throw rate (96.2) and fouls drawn per 40 minutes (8.3). During the NCAA First Round win against BYU, Vokietaitis registered a team-best 23 points (10-17 FG) and a career-high 16 rebounds in 33 minutes. He became the first player in Texas program history to record a 20-point, 15-rebound effort in a NCAA Tournament game.
During the recent offseason in the spring and summer of 2026, the Texas staff added a total of 11 newcomers to the roster, and the group was tabbed the No. 1 overall class (factoring in both freshmen and transfers) in the nation by 247 Sports. In addition, the six-man freshman class was ranked as the No. 4 recruiting class nationally by 247 Sports and is highlighted by a trio of players from the state of Texas in Austin Goosby, Bo Ogden and Marcus Spears Jr.
Hunter spent five years (2020-25) on Mike Woodson’s staff at Indiana University, including the last three seasons in the role of associate head coach. During his time in Bloomington, the Hoosiers made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and registered a 94-68 (.580) overall record.
In the 2022-23 season, Indiana posted a 23-12 mark, tied for second in the Big Ten (12-8), advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 and finished the year at No. 21 in the final Associated Press poll. Trayce Jackson-Davis earned consensus first-team All-America honors, a first for a Hoosier player in 10 years, and won the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward. Jalen Hood-Schifino claimed Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades. Hood-Schifino was selected as the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, while Jackson-Davis was taken as the No. 57 pick by the Washington Wizards. The Hoosiers registered a 21-14 record in 2021-22 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Prior to his time at Indiana, Hunter worked as an assistant coach for two seasons (2018-20) at UConn for Dan Hurley. Hunter helped the Huskies land consecutive top-20 national recruiting classes. UConn posted a 19-12 mark in the 2019-20 season and were in strong contention for a NCAA Tournament berth before the postseason was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hunter also helped Josh Carlton earn American Athletic Conference Most Improved Player recognition in 2018-19.
Hunter spent five seasons (2013-18) as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska for Tim Miles. The Cornhuskers registered 82 total victories and made a pair of postseason appearances during those five years, including a trip to the 2014 NCAA Tournament. In Hunter’s first year in Lincoln in 2013-14, he helped Nebraska post a 19-13 overall record (11-7 Big Ten) and advance to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, marking the program’s first appearance in the Big Dance since 1998. The Cornhuskers also recorded a 22-11 mark (13-5 Big Ten) and reached the NIT First Round during the 2017-18 season.
Prior to his time at Nebraska, Hunter worked for six years (2007-13) as an assistant coach at Georgetown University for John Thompson III. During his time at Georgetown, Hunter helped the Hoyas post an overall record of 137-59 (.699) and advance to five NCAA Tournaments. Georgetown captured two BIG EAST Conference regular season titles (2008 and 2013) and produced five 20-win seasons in that span. Hunter worked with 11 players at Georgetown who went on to see game action in the NBA, including Roy Hibbert (No. 17 pick in 2008 NBA Draft), Greg Monroe (No. 7 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft) and Otto Porter Jr. (2013 BIG EAST Player of the Year and No. 3 selection in the 2013 NBA Draft).
Hunter spent three years (2004-07) as an assistant coach at Xavier University during Sean Miller’s first stint as head coach with the Musketeers. During his three seasons in Cincinnati, Hunter helped the Musketeers register an overall mark of 63-32 (.663) and advance to a pair of NCAA Tournaments. In 2005-06, Xavier went 21-11 and won the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament before reaching the NCAA Tournament First Round. The Musketeers followed with a 25-9 record and claimed the A-10 regular-season title while advancing to the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2006-07.
Prior to his time at Xavier, Hunter worked for four years (2000-04) as Director of Basketball Operations at North Carolina State University for Herb Sendek. Sean Miller served as associate head coach at NC State during Hunter’s first year in Raleigh (2000-01). The Wolfpack won 75 games and advanced to three NCAA Tournaments during Hunter’s four seasons.
Hunter began his coaching career as an assistant coach for two years (1998-2000) at Duquesne University for Darelle Porter. Hunter helped the Dukes land the top recruiting class in the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1999.
A four-year letterwinner at Duquesne (1992-96), Hunter played in 103 career games (63 starts) and averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per contest. A three-time team captain for the Dukes, he converted 35.1-percent (136-387) from three-point range and 74.4-percent (215-289) from the free throw line during his career. Hunter was named to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference All-Freshman Team in 1992-93.
Hunter earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Duquesne University in 1996. He went on to receive his master’s degree in education from North Carolina State University in 1998 while serving as a student manager for the Wolfpack.
A native of Arlington, Va., who played both football and basketball at Wakefield High School, Hunter is married to the former Shani Alston. The couple has one son, Jaylin, and three daughters, Kendall, Avery and Kamryn. Jaylin played basketball at Ohio University and is currently playing professionally in London, while Kendall attends UNC Wilmington.
The Kenya Hunter File
|
Hometown |
Arlington, Va. |
|
Education |
Duquesne University, bachelor’s degree, liberal arts, 1996; North Carolina State University, master’s degree, education, 1998 |
|
Wife |
Shani |
|
Children |
Jaylin (son), Kendall (daughter), Avery (daughter), Kamryn (daughter) |
Hunter’s Coaching Experience
|
Years |
School |
Position/Title |
|
2025- |
Texas |
Assistant Coach |
|
2022-25 |
Indiana |
Associate Head Coach |
|
2020-22 |
Indiana |
Assistant Coach |
|
2018-20 |
UConn |
Assistant Coach |
|
2013-18 |
Nebraska |
Assistant Coach |
|
2007-13 |
Georgetown |
Assistant Coach |
|
2004-07 |
Xavier |
Assistant Coach |
|
2000-04 |
North Carolina State |
Director of Basketball Operations |
|
1998-2000 |
Duquesne |
Assistant Coach |
