Jason Terry accepts assistant coach spot with Arizona basketball
May 27, 2020, 5:45 PM | Updated: May 28, 2020, 11:11 am
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Former Arizona Wildcats point guard Jason Terry has accepted an assistant coach position on Sean Miller’s staff, the school announced on Thursday.
“My family and I are excited to be part of the incredible Tucson community again, where our story began,” Terry said in a statement. “I am looking forward to joining Coach Miller and staff to develop student-athletes that have a passion for education, basketball excellence and community leadership.”
Stadium’s Jeff Goodman had reported Terry was a leading candidate for the job in late April.
Terry departs a role with the Dallas Mavericks, where he was an assistant general manager for the Texas Legends in the G League.
Terry played at Arizona from 1995-99 and was on its 1997 national title team. He started 18 games as the third guard behind Mike Bibby and Miles Simon.
“We are excited to welcome Jason Terry, his wife, Johnyika, and their daughters to our program and the community,” Miller said in a release. “Jason’s accomplishments as a player and champion are iconic in our sport, with so many of his incredible moments on the court taking place here at the University of Arizona. His basketball journey is one that so many players dream of, but he was able to make it a reality.
“Jason’s knowledge of the game along with his charisma and competitive spirit are qualities that will make him an exceptional coach. He will impact and energize our current players as well as our recruiting efforts in a major way. We look forward to having back on our sideline in the McKale Center.”
He went on to play for six teams in the NBA from 1999-2018. Terry was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2009 and won a title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
He averaged 13.4 points and 3.8 assists in 1,410 regular season games while posting 13 straight double-digit scoring seasons from 2000-13.
Terry does not have college coaching experience but gives the Wildcats a boost on the recruiting trail considering his outgoing personality and relatively recent NBA career.
He fills a vacated spot on the coaching staff after Justin Gainey left Arizona in early April to become associate head coach for Marquette. Director of on-campus recruiting/analytics David Miller, who is not related to Sean Miller, had taken on the assistant coaching role temporarily to continue the team’s recruiting efforts, according to the Arizona Daily Star’s Bruce Pascoe.
Terry joins associate head coach Jack Murphy and Danny Peters as assistants.
The University of Arizona athletic department is under a hiring freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletic director Dave Heeke told the Arizona Daily Star in April that some exceptions could be made.
