Missouri Western State University men’s basketball head coach Will Martin announced Wednesday the hiring of Jon Hood as an assistant coach.
 
Hood comes to MWSU after one year as an assistant coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and he was also a player at the University of Kentucky.
 
“Jon has a wealth of knowledge and experience in our game that is going to allow us to take the next steps forward in establishing a championship standard within Missouri Western Basketball,” said Coach Martin.  “As both an elite player and coach, he has shown an unmatched love and passion for serving others through the game of basketball. Coach Hood is going to lead our student athletes both on and off the court with a tremendous amount of authentic Faith, Love, Ownership, and Work.  We won a National Championship together at the University of Kentucky in 2012, and I’m looking forward to winning more championships together for Griff Nation.”
 
Hood spent the 2020-2021 season as an assistant coach at Kentucky Wesleyan, and he helped the Panthers go 10-6 as they finished third in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
 
Prior to his stint at KWC, Hood was an assistant coach in the prep ranks at Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington, Kentucky.  He has coached at various levels of basketball and has also worked in orthopedics.  Hood has provided instruction at several basketball camps, including Kentucky head coach John Calipari’s camp.
 
“I’m very excited to be a part of the Griffon men’s basketball program,” said Coach Hood. “Thank you to Coach Martin and the administration at MWSU for providing me with his opportunity.  I can’t wait to get started and help Griffon basketball compete for championships!”
 
As a player, Hood was a part of the University of Kentucky’s 2009 No. 1 ranked recruiting class that included John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe.  Hood was named Mr. Basketball in Kentucky and the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state during his senior season at North Hopkins High School in Madisonville, and was ranked No. 40 by Rivals.com.
 
Hood spent five years in Lexington and played in 86 games for John Calipari at Kentucky.  Will Martin was a manager at UK during part of Hood’s playing career, and the two helped the Wildcats win the 2012 National Championship.  Hood helped Kentucky get to three Final Fours during his career and he played with over 30 players that went on to play professionally.  He earned a degree in Community Leadership Development in 2013 and added a second degree in Communications in 2014.
 
Hood will live in St. Joseph with his wife, Tara.

https://gogriffons.com/news/2021/5/5/jon-hood-named-mens-basketball-assistant-coach.aspx