Basketball

Kent Williams is entering his 7^th season as the Head Basketball Coach of the De Smet Jesuit Spartans. Last year, the Spartans finished 1^st in the MCC for the first time in 17 seasons. Coach Williams has completely turned the program around in his first 6 seasons at the helm. Over his 6 seasons, the Spartans are 107-56 with a winning percentage of .656 while playing some of the toughest competition in the region. Coach Williams’ Spartans are 100-44 in the last 5 seasons with a .694 winning percentage. Coach Williams and the Spartans set a school record with the biggest turnaround in school history from year 1 to year 2, going from 7 wins to 23 wins.

Over his 6 years, Coach Williams has helped 11 players go on to play college basketball and coached 5 more players who went on to play collegiately in another sport. During this time, the Spartans have had 3 All-State Award Winners, 14 All-District Players, and 3 1,000-point scorers. Justin Duff became the school’s All-Time Leader in 3 Point Field Goals, passing Blake Ahern with 167 threes. Justin Duff set a single-game steals record with 8 vs. Lafayette on December 12, 2020. Sekou Gassama set a single game Free Throw record by making 17 vs. Chaminade on January 7, 2021. The Spartans won the Centralia Thanksgiving Tournament Championship, Arvest Classic Tournament Champions in Springfield, MO, and 4 straight Circle 7 Showdown Championships. 

Coach Williams compiled an impressive profile over his playing and coaching career before arriving at De Smet. As Southern Illinois University 2^nd All-Time Leading Scorer with 2,012 points, Kent helped lead the Salukis to back-to-back MVC Championships in 2002 and 2003, including back-to-back BCAA Tournaments. In 2002, the Salukis reached the Sweet 16. Coach Williams is the only player in SIU history to lead the team in scoring all 4 years. He set a school record while starting all 130 games and complied the most minutes played in school history. He’s 2^nd in 3-pointers made, 2^nd in Free Throws made, and 8^th in Assists. Over his career, Coach Williams earned 1^st Team ALL-MVC in 2002 & 2003, 2^nd Team All-MVC in 2001 and was named Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in 2000. He also was the first ever 2-time MVC Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2002 and 2003. 

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 Ten Coach of the Year Matt Painter. During Coach Williams’ time at Purdue, the Boilermakers went from worst to 2^nd in just 3 seasons while setting a 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 1^st in 3 seasons and won the school's first and 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 3s 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.

College Players 

·       Brooks Ford – University of Missouri

·       Evan Asleson – Missouri Baptist University/Lewis & Clark Community College

·       Collin Goodwin – Greenville University

·       Sekou Gassama – Pepperdine University

·       Yaya Keita – University of Missouri/Oklahoma University

·       Jackson Neidenbach – Millikin University

·       Brian Taylor – UW Milwaukee/SIU Edwardsville

·       Jemeal Goines – St. Louis Community College

·       Brennan Lovette – Rend Lake College/Truman State University 

·       Justin Duff – Missouri Southern University

·       Patrick Origliasso – Millikin University