Basketball

Kent Williams has compiled an impressive profile over his playing and coaching career. As Southern Illinois Universities 2nd All-Time Leading Scorer with 2,012 points, Kent helped lead the Salukis to back to back MVC Championships in 2002 & 2003 including back to back NCAA Tournaments. In 2002, the Salukis reached the Sweet 16. Kent is the only player in SIU history to lead the team in scoring all 4 years. Kent set a school record while starting all 130 games and complied the most minutes played in school history. He's 2nd in 3 Pointers made, 2nd in Free Throws made, and 8th in Assists. Over his career, Kent earned 1st Team All-MVC in '02 & '03, 2nd Team All-MVC in '01 and was named Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in '00. Kent also was the first ever 2-Time MVC Scholar Athlete of the Year in '02 & '03.

Kent was inducted into SIU's Hall of Fame in 2009 and was also selected to the SIU All-Century Team in 2014. In 2019, Kent was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame and he is also a member of the MVC All-Centennial Team.

Kent's coaching career began at Purdue University as the Supervisor of Basketball Operations under 2019 National Coach of the Year and 4-Time Big 10 Coach of the Year Matt Painter. During Kent's time at Purdue, the Boilermakers went from worst to 2nd in just 3 seasons while setting a school record for the largest turnaround in school history. Kent coached 4 NBA Draft Picks: Carl Landry, E'Twuan Moore, JaJuan Johnson, and Robbie Hummel.

In 2008, Kent became an Assistant Coach at Missouri State University under Cuonzo Martin. While at Missouri State, the Bears went from worst to first in 3 seasons and won the schools first & only MVC Regular Season Championship. Once again, setting a school record for the largest turnaround, the Bears went from 8 wins to 24 wins while setting school records for points per game and 3's made in a season. Kent was instrumental in developing MVC Player of the Year Kyle Weems and MVC Newcomer of the Year Adam Leonard.

In 2011, Kent became an Assistant Coach at the University of Tennessee. While at Tennessee, the Vols averaged 21 wins a season including a run to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2014. Kent coached 3 NBA Draft Picks: Jarnell Stokes, Jordan McRae, and Josh Richardson.

After Tennessee, Kent spent 2 years as an Assistant Coach at SIU-Edwardsville before taking over De Smet as the school's 6th Head Coach. In just 2 years at De Smet, Kent helped guide the Spartans to a school record turnaround going from 7 wins to 23 wins. In the 2018-19 season, the Spartans were Champions of the Centralia Thanksgiving Tournament and the Circle 7 Showdown and finished 2nd in the Meremec Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament. Sr. Evan Asleson was named 1st Team All-MCC. Jr. Michael Skoff, So. Jeremiah Walker and So. Sekou Gassama were all named 2nd Team All-MCC.