Washington State Head Men's Basketball Coach Kyle Smith officially announced June 28, 2022, the addition of Wayne Hunter as an assistant coach.
Wayne Hunter enters the 2023-24 season as second year assistant to Kyle Smith’s Cougs. Not only does Hunter help on the court, but off the court, he plays a major role in the recruiting of the team with strong ties to much of the West Coast.
During the 2022-23 season, Hunter aided the 17-17 Cougars hold opponents to only 65.7 points per game, the second lowest average in the past 5 years. The Cougs also had a second highest average in the past 5 years of 9.1 3-point field goals made per game.
Last year, Hunter joined the men's basketball staff on the Palouse as he briefly held the recruiting coordinator position before transitioning back to his alma mater as an assistant coach. He reunites with Smith who coached Hunter during the former standout guard's playing days at Saint Mary's.
Prior to coming to Washington State, Hunter spent the 2021-22 season at Saint Mary's College where he helped the Gaels to a 26-8 overall record and capped off the regular season at home with a win over top-ranked Gonzaga. The Gaels were a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest in program history, while reaching the second round.
Hunter originally got his collegiate coaching start in two seasons at UC Riverside as an assistant coach in 2020-21 where he helped guide the Highlanders to their most successful season in program history. Taking the lead on defensive analytics and advance scouting of opponents, Hunters’ Highlanders ranked among the elite defensive teams in the country ranking 28th in scoring defense and 23rd in defensive field goal percentage. As a team, the Highlanders landed four players on the All-Big West team including former Coug, Arinze Chidom, who took home first team honors. In addition to his coaching, Hunter was instrumental in the recruiting of UCR’s highest ranked recruit class in program history landing the Highlanders’ first four-star prep in Jhaylon Martinez.
Before beginning his college coaching career, Hunter started his coaching career in the AAU and high school ranks at Kennedy HS, Oakland Technical HS, James Logan HS, and Miramonte HS as well as leading AAU’s West Coast Elite Basketball Nor-Cal. As part of the National Under Armour Association (UAA) Circuit, the West Coast Elite U16 team rated as one of the top teams in the nation routinely ranking in the top-5 nationally among all UAA teams. Hunter’s early work in AAU and high school basketball gave him intimate knowledge of compliance and recruiting rules while giving him a unique standing on the recruiting trail that he brings with him to WSU.
As a player, Hunter was a standout combo guard at Saint Mary’s College where he helped lead the Gaels to three postseason appearances including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2010 as a senior. He graduated with a degree in communications in 2010.
He and his wife, Melissa, have a daughter, Maliya, and a son, Wayne.
