Jamaal Williams was hired as an assistant coach for the UNLV men's basketball program prior to the 2022-23 season.
In his first season, Williams helped the Runnin' Rebels secure 19 wins, including two against ranked teams, marking the most top 25 victories for UNLV in a season since 2015-16. The team started 2022-23 with a 10-0 record, the program's best start in 34 years, and finished non-conference play with an 11-1 mark, their best in 32 years. After the hot start, UNLV received votes in both national polls.
Williams continued to play a crucial role during the 2023-24 season, when UNLV made its first postseason appearance in 11 years (since the 2013 NCAA Tournament). The team earned its first postseason win in 16 years and won two postseason games for the first time in 17 years. UNLV hosted an NIT game for the first time since 2005 and finished the season with 21 wins, their highest total since 2012-13.
The team’s success in 2023-24 was further highlighted by their 12-4 finish in the final 16 games of the season. Freshman standout Dedan Thomas Jr. was named the Mountain West's Co-Freshman of the Year, leading the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg). He also set the MW freshman assists record with 174 and led all freshmen nationwide in assists.
UNLV made significant strides against top competition, defeating No. 8 Creighton for their first win over a top-10 team in four years and their first such victory in non-conference play in nine years. They also recorded four wins over ranked teams, the most since 2012-13, and won eight true road games, the highest total since 2010-11. The Runnin' Rebels tallied five Quad 1 victories, tying for fourth-most in the Mountain West, and were one of just 33 teams in the country to achieve that many.
UNLV's 12-6 conference record earned them fourth place in the Mountain West, their best finish in four years, with four season sweeps of conference opponents. They went 6-1 in February, marking the best February record since 1996-97. An 11-game stretch in league play saw the Runnin' Rebels go 10-1, the program's best run in conference play since 1991-92.
Before joining UNLV, Williams served as an assistant coach at Portland State during the 2021-22 season. His earlier coaching career included successful stints at Garfield High School and Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, where he was part of five Washington state championship teams. Nathan Hale also won the national championship in 2017, led by future NBA star Michael Porter Jr.
From 2017 to 2021, Williams was the head coach of the Seattle Rotary AAU team in the Nike EYBL, leading them to back-to-back Peach Jam appearances. He coached future NBA talents such as Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota Timberwolves), Paolo Banchero (No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft), and 2022 NBA Draft picks Tari Eason and MarJon Beauchamp.
Over his coaching career at the high school and AAU levels, Williams mentored 23 players who went on to compete at the Division I level, including four McDonald's All-Americans and six current NBA players.
Originally from Corona, California, Williams starred collegiately at Washington (2003-06), where he helped the Huskies reach the NCAA Sweet 16 twice. Washington earned the No. 1 seed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament after winning the Pac-12 title. Williams also played at New Mexico (2001-03) before transferring to UW.
Following his college career, Williams played professionally in Italy, France, Iceland, Argentina, Israel, and the Philippines. He later transitioned into coaching, starting under his former Washington teammate Brandon Roy at Nathan Hale and Garfield High Schools.
Williams earned a degree in communications from Washington in 2006. He and his wife, Brandi, have four children: Jayda (20), Brooklynn (17), Braylen (15), and Jorgia (10).
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