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Dwayne Killings Hired as Men's Basketball Assistant Coach

The former assistant at Temple will join Kevin Ollie's staff for the 2016-2017 season.

By Shawn McGrath

On June 24, in accordance with state law, a job was posted searching for an assistant coach to replace Karl Hobbs, who is now the associate head coach at Rutgers. Previous to the job posting, it was widely assumed that Kevin Freeman, current director of basketball operations, would be promoted to replace Hobbs.

The job posting, however, included some hefty qualifications which Freeman does not have. It was looking for NBA experience and at least five years of assistant coaching experience, among other requirements.

On Tuesday evening, CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein confirmed a report that Dwayne Killings, Temple's assistant coach, would be coming to Storrs. UConn made it official Wednesday morning.

Killings played for both UMass and Hampton, walking on for two years for the Minutemen. He has been a member of the coaching staff for four NCAA Tournament teams: one at Boston University's 2011 team, and three at Temple (2012, 2013, 2016). Killings also worked in the NBA D-League in 2009-2010 and for the Charlotte Bobcats from 2003-2006, helping develop Emeka Okafor and Sean May. He also served as Temple's director of basketball operations from 2006-2009.

"To work for someone like Kevin Ollie, is something that made the opportunity really attractive to me," Killings said via UConn's release. "He's a young coach who has already accomplished a lot of great things."

Ollie, who noticed Killings on the recruiting trail, sees a lot of promise in the young assistant coach who grew up in New England.

"He was always so professional in the way he conducted himself," Ollie said. "With his recruiting ties across the country, I think he's going to do a great job for us. And obviously, his knowledge of the conference, being at Temple, is huge."

Given that the July evaluation period starts today, Killings can now get out on the road and start recruiting for the Huskies. Though it may be controversial to add someone without UConn ties onto the staff, Killings' hire should bring fresh ideas and a new mindset to the organization while also giving recruiting a boost. It also doesn't hurt to weaken a conference foe at the same time.

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