From NBA head coaches to college builders — coaching careers among the 149 Through the Rafters profiles.
29 Through the Rafters players went into coaching.
| Player | Years at Kentucky | Current Coaching Role | NBA Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vince Taylor | 1978–82 | Assistant coach, Tennessee State University; Lexington African American Sports H | — |
| Chip Engelland | 1979–83 | Assistant coach, Oklahoma City Thunder; 3x NBA Champion (2007, 2014, 2025); the | — |
| Johnny Dawkins | 1982–86 | HC UCF; fmr Asst Duke, HC Stanford | 541 |
| Tommy Amaker | 1983–87 | Head Coach, Harvard Crimson | — |
| Quin Snyder | 1985–89 | Head Coach, Atlanta Hawks | — |
| Robert Brickey | 1987–90 | Head coach, Fayetteville Stingers (The Basketball League); lives in Fayetteville | — |
| Bobby Hurley | 1989–93 | Head Coach, Arizona State | 236 |
| Thomas Hill | 1989–93 | Boys Basketball Program Director & Head Coach, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Au | 129 |
| Antonio Lang | 1990–94 | Assistant Coach, Atlanta Hawks | 455 |
| Kenny Blakeney | 1990–95 | Head coach, Howard University (2019–present); back-to-back MEAC champions; 2 NCA | — |
| Chris Collins | 1992–96 | Head coach, Northwestern University (2013–present); 3 NCAA Tournament appearance | — |
| Jeff Capel | 1993–97 | Head Coach, Pittsburgh | — |
| Greg Newton | 1993–97 | Former assistant coach, Brock University (Ontario); lives in Niagara Falls regio | — |
| Steve Wojciechowski | 1994–98 | Assistant Coach, Utah Jazz | — |
| Chris Carrawell | 1996–00 | Associate Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils | 22 |
| Nate James | 1996–00 | Associate Head Coach, Howard University (reunited with Kenny Blakeney); married | — |
| William Avery | 1997–99 | Assistant Coach, Duke University (hired 2023 under Jon Scheyer); graduated Duke | 142 |
| Chris Duhon | 2000–04 | Head coach, Gaston Christian School (NC); Greater New Orleans Sports HOF (2024) | 444 |
| Dahntay Jones | 2000–03 | Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Clippers (promoted to full assistant 2024-25 under | 624 |
| JJ Redick | 2002–06 | Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers | 940 |
| Shelden Williams | 2002–06 | Coach/mentor; Shelden Williams Foundation; G League asst. coach | 301 |
| David McClure | 2004–09 | Assistant Coach, Memphis Grizzlies (since 2019); previously Spurs, Pacers | — |
| Josh McRoberts | 2005–07 | Assistant coach, Carmel HS; Hamilton County Basketball HOF | 432 |
| Greg Paulus | 2005–09 | Head Coach, Niagara University men’s basketball (since 2019); inducted into Grea | — |
| Jon Scheyer | 2006–10 | Head Coach, Duke University men's basketball (20th in program history). 118-24 i | — |
| Nolan Smith | 2007–11 | Head Coach, Tennessee State University (hired July 2025); previously assistant a | 44 |
| Andre Dawkins | 2009–14 | Head boys basketball coach, Charlottesville High School (VA); director, Pro Skil | 4 |
| Stanley Borden | 2021–25 | Graduate transfer at UTSA (2025-26); Duke computer science degree; last Coach K | — |
| Neal Begovich | 2023–25 | Graduate student at Duke; walk-on forward across two seasons (2023-25); brother | — |