Kwa Jones is in his second year with the Illinois program and is temporarily serving in the role of assistant coach.

He returned to Champaign in July 2023 as director of recruiting and scouting, joining a staff that helped the Illini win 29 games highlighted by the 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship and trip to the NCAA Elite Eight. 

Jones spent the 202-23 season as director of operations at Stephen F. Austin, with duties including travel, meals, team scheduling and planning recruiting visits.

That followed a video coaching associate role in 2021-22 with the Sacramento Kings, where he specialized in film and assisted with player development.

Jones spent two years on Underwood’s staff as graduate manager during the successful 2020 and 2021 seasons. Illinois went a combined 29-11 in conference play during his tenure, earning a final AP ranking of No. 21 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign and leading the Big Ten in wins while adding the Big Ten Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in 2021.

Jones is a native of Nacogdoches, Texas. He is a 2019 graduate of the University of Houston, with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration. While at Houston, he was an on-court student manager for the Cougars.

Jones earned his master’s degree in recreation, sport, and tourism from the University of Illinois in 2021.