Wofford College men’s basketball head coach Jay McAuley announced today the addition of Kente’ Hart as an assistant to the head coach. Hart joins the Terrier staff after serving as an assistant at Florida Southwestern State College since 2018.
“Kente’ is a very successful and experienced college basketball coach,” said McAuley. “We are excited to add another high-character individual to our staff that will bring great energy and wisdom to our championship program.”
Hart was an assistant for four seasons with the Bucs where he aided in the program’s plethora of successes. With Hart, FSW won multiple conference championships and earned continuous appearances in the NJCAA National Tournament, including a fifth-place finish in the 2018-19 edition. FSW earned its first-ever No. 1 ranking during that 2018-19 campaign and held that top rank for the majority of the following season. Between 2018 and 2020, Hart helped 13 of his players advance to the Division I level with four-year scholarships, three of which were to Power Five institutions.
Prior to joining the Bucs, Hart was an assistant from 2011-18 across town at USC Upstate. During his first stint in Spartanburg, Hart aided the Spartans to their first postseason victory at the Division I level in the 2012 CIT with a triumph over Kent State. The 2014-15 season saw even more success with a program record 24 victories. During Hart’s time at USC Upstate, the Spartans posted wins over four Power Five teams (South Carolina, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech) and advanced to postseason play in four of six seasons between 2011 and 2017.
Hart served as an assistant with Vincennes University for a season in 2009-10. That season, Hart and Vincennes finished as the NJCAA District III Runners-Up and secured 22 wins. Three players from that squad would sign Division I scholarships.
Hart’s coaching career began at Carson-Newman where he served as a student assistant from 2007-08 as he completed his undergraduate degree.
Before joining the coaching staff, Hart played two seasons on the hardwood for the Eagles. His senior campaign was capped with a Second-Team All-South Atlantic Conference selection alongside team MVP honors after averaging 15.1 ppg, 6.0 apg and 2.9 rpg. He knocked down 49 percent of his shots and was 46 percent successful beyond the arc. He finished 15th nationally in assists.
Before concluding his playing career at Carson-Newman, Hart began it at Shawnee Community College where he earned team MVP honors after his sophomore campaign. That season he also garnered First-Team All-Conference accolades upon leading the team in points (18.1 ppg), assists (6.1 apg) and free-throw percentage (87.0). Also stellar in the classroom, Hart was named to the Dean’s List and was a member of Phi Beta Lambda.
A skilled recruiter and player developer, Hart has recruited 16 players to the junior college level who later signed with Division I programs after playing for him. He also helped develop future professional Torrey Craig at USC Upstate, who under Hart was named the 2012 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and was a 2013 unanimous First-Team All-Conference selection. Craig would go on to play professionally in Australia before moving to the NBA. Craig has spent five seasons in the NBA with four organizations and currently plays for the Phoenix Suns.
Hart graduated in December of 2008 from Carson-Newman with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. He now begins his second stint in Spartanburg as he joins McAuley on the Terrier coaching staff for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Hart added to Wofford Men’s Basketball Staff
Photo Courtesy Wofford Athletics
