The Austin Spurs have turned to a familiar basketball builder for their next head coach, naming Florida State alum Chris Kent as the franchise’s 12th leader Thursday morning in Cedar Park, Texas.
Kent arrives in Austin after spending the 2025-26 season at Florida State as assistant coach and director of player development. The Seminoles finished 18-15 and saw their run end in the ACC tournament against Cam Boozer’s Duke Blue Devils.
For Kent, this is his third G League stop. He worked as an assistant coach with the Windy City Bulls in 2022-23, then spent the next two seasons, from 2023-25, as an assistant coach with the Rip City Remix. His NBA path started in Chicago, where he was a coaching intern in 2018 before moving into three seasons as the team’s video coordinator.
Florida State coach Luke Loucks made it clear the recommendation heading to Austin came with some force.
"I always believed he had what it takes to be a head coach," Florida State coach Luke Loucks said of Kent via press release on Thursday. "His attention to detail is second to none, and that's one of the many reasons I knew this opportunity would come."
Louks continued: "Chris brought a clear, organized approach to everything we did last season, and he built systems that helped our players and staff be at their best every day."
Kent takes over from Jacob Chance, who coached the Austin Spurs last season in his first year as a head coach. Austin went 23-13 in the regular season, finished third in the Western Conference, and earned a second straight playoff berth.
Chance’s move back to Australia came quickly after that success. He signed a four-year deal this offseason to become the new head coach of Melbourne United, a club he had coached for several seasons before his G League stint.
Chance often described the job in developmental terms, stressing the balance between team results and helping players advance. That approach was reflected in his own comments about the role.
"My job was to create an environment for the players and staff to feel valued and feel like they improved," Chance said. "That they could walk out a better coach or player."
Kent now steps into a program that has been moving forward for a while. The run started three seasons ago under Scott King, who led the squad to the G League Western Conference Finals before joining Mitch Johnson's staff as an assistant coach and clearing the way for Chance.
Loucks believes Austin is getting more than just a coach.
"The Spurs are getting an outstanding coach and an even better person," Loucks said. "I'm excited to watch Chris continue to grow ... this is just the beginning of many great things to come. He brings a level of professionalism that makes everyone around him better."
The NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament opens Friday, Nov. 6, and Kent’s first game in charge will come on the road in Edinburg against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central.
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