Former KU point guard Jacque Vaughn remains strong candidate for assistant job
Former Kansas and NBA point guard Jacque Vaughn sat in Bill Self’s office on May 7, visiting with Self, KU’s 22nd-year head coach, about the possibility of filling the assistant coach opening on Self’s staff.
Nearly two weeks later, sources close to the situation tell The Star that Self and his assistants are operating with the expectation that Vaughn, the 50-year-old Pasadena, California native, will indeed be hired as Norm Roberts’ replacement in the near future.
Sources close to the situation indicate Self and Vaughn have continued discussions regarding details about the position.
“I’ll comment when there is something to comment on,” KU coach Self told The Star on Tuesday in a phone conversation.
Vaughn — who played at KU four seasons (1993-94 through 1996-97) and had his jersey No. 11 hung in the Allen Fieldhouse rafters on Dec. 31, 2002 — if details are finalized would replace Roberts, who announced his retirement on May 5 after 14 seasons at KU and 37 total years in the business.
Vaughn — he was 27th pick in the 1997 NBA Draft (by Utah), who also played for Atlanta, Orlando, New Jersey and San Antonio — served as head coach of the NBA’s Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets following his 12 years as a player in the league.
He most recently was head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
After directing the Nets to a 43-32 record and playoff berth in 2022-23, Vaughn was fired after his squad opened the 2023-24 season with 21-33 record.
Prior to that, Vaughn was an assistant with the Nets from the 2016-17 season through ’22-23. He was interim head coach for 10 games in 2019-20, leading the team to a 7-3 mark and spot in the playoffs, where the Nets lost in the first round.
A source close to the situation told The Star that Vaughn would be a valuable addition to KU because of his vast knowledge of the NBA and NBA style of play. As a former standout point guard in both the pros and college, he also could speed the developmental progress of incoming point guard sensation Darryn Peterson, who is expected to start from day one at KU.
“He’s about as sharp as anybody I’ve ever been around as a player, and his thirst for game plans and little moments where he can make a difference and impact winning, it was high-level. And as a coach, it’s kind of the same thing,” former Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said in an interview with reporter Kristian Winfield.
Vaughn was head coach of the Orlando Magic for three seasons (2012-13 through 2014-15). The team, which was in rebuild mode, had records of 20-62, 23-59 and then 15-37 in the final year in which he was replaced after 52 games.
Vaughn began his coaching career after retiring as a player with the San Antonio Spurs. He worked on Gregg Popovich’s Spurs’ coaching staff in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
“I always tell people after he retires he could be governor of California or Kansas,” his college coach, former KU and North Carolina coach Roy Williams, has said of Vaughn.
“He’s that kind of youngster. He is one of the most disciplined young men I’ve coached. He’s the best I’ve ever had in being a coach on the floor. The best I’ve had in being concerned with how his teammates were doing. He’s truly one of the great players to play at Kansas.”
In another interview Williams said: “I told him he could be a great coach but he could also be the governor of California. He was a great leader (at KU) and so intelligent and great at getting guys to make decisions as a group when he made them think what’s best for them.
“Jacque was in charge,” Williams added. “He knew where everybody should be and what they should be doing. If the big guys ran the floor with him, he would reward them by getting them the ball more to make sure they did it more.”
Of Vaughn, Nets general manager Sean Marks said in 2022: “Jacque’s basketball acumen, competitiveness and intimate knowledge of our team and organization make him the clear-cut best person to lead our group. He has a proven ability to get the best out of our players, hold them accountable and play a cohesive, team-first style of basketball. When we look at the person he is, we look at his connection with players … his competitive spirit, a lot of that goes a long way.”
Former Nets star forward Kevin Durant told the New York Daily News he loved playing for Vaughn, a coach who believes strongly in using analytics, even during games.
“He’s (Vaughn) been huge. Just keeping it simple. We have high expectations for our team, but the process is more important than the end result. Each day matters and Jacque has been preaching that since he got the job,” Durant said.
“As a player, you like to simplify the game and what you’re doing and that’s what he’s been doing this whole time. Guys have been learning on the fly, but also picking up things quick and applying it quickly, so Jacque has been doing a great job for us,” Durant added.
Vaughn was a McDonald’s All-American at Muir High School in Pasadena California. He’d go on to help lead the Jayhawks to three conference regular-season titles, one league-tourney title, three Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight.
“Congrats to my university, all-time wins, a testament to a standard that’s been created and maintained, a testament to longevity,” Vaughn said in March of 2022 in a social media video when KU passed Kentucky on the all-time NCAA victories list. Kentucky has since retaken the lead. “A testament to the many people who have helped this program. Congrats, all-time wins.”
Of his coaching philosophy, Vaughn said in July 2020: “As a coach, you’re always trying to galvanize a group and prepare them to win basketball games. That will be the objective in the eyes of the coaching staff. So I have to be totally-in in all aspects. That is coaching them to make them better, coaching them to win basketball games, but at the same time, I will consistently be concerned about their thought process, their mental health (and) their growth as human beings as we go into this situation together.”
As a player at KU, Vaughn was a two-time all-conference pick and Big Eight player of the year in 1996. He was the 1997 GTE Academic All-American of the year.
Of his jersey retirement at KU, Vaughn said: “I never thought it’d be there (in rafters). I always appreciated the names up there who came before me and laid a foundation. I always appreciate what history is. It’s amazing I can be a part of that. It’s tough to describe what this means to me. The fans here have always been unbelievable. I love them and this university so much.”
Vaughn became a fan favorite in Lawrence immediately, hitting a game-winning 3-pointer to beat Indiana during the 1993-94 season, his first with KU.
Vaughn and his wife, Laura, have two children, Jalen and Jeremiah.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM.
