DALLAS (SMU) - Yaphett King was named an assistant coach by Head Coach Tim Jankovich. King came to SMU after three seasons at Louisiana Tech, where the Bulldogs had two 20-win seasons.

"We are excited to have Yaphett joining our program," said Jankovich. "He was an outstanding player, and has been a very successful assistant as well as head coach. We think he is a great fit for SMU."

"I would like to thank Coach Jankovich for giving me the opportunity to join his staff," says King. "My family and I are super excited about coming to SMU, and can't wait to get started."

At Louisiana Tech, the team registered three 20-win seasons, reaching 23 wins twice. His time with the Bulldogs included winning the 2017-18 Cancun Challenge and the New Orleans Shootout. Five players earned C-USA postseason awards during his time in Ruston.

Prior to Louisiana Tech, King was an assistant coach at Texas A&M--Corpus Christi for four seasons (2012-16). The team improved dramatically during his time, winning 20 games in 2014-15 and 25 games in 2015-16. The Islanders earned a CIT bid in each of his last three seasons.

Prior to joining the Islanders, King spent four years (2008-12) as head coach at Redlands Community College where he led the squad to 72 wins during his tenure, highlighted by a 21-win season and a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament in 2010-11.

King started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Redlands in 2006-07, when the team went 31-2 en route to the regional final. 

The following year (2007-08) he joined Cowley College as an assistant coach, assisting the team to a 31-2 overall mark and an appearance in the regional championship game.

On the court, King was an All-American as a freshman at Redlands in 2001-02 while leading the team to the NJCAA Division II national title. He went on to play at Cal State Fullerton where he helped the Titans to postseason play for the first time in 15 years, advancing to the Round of 16 in the National Invitation Tournament. 

He went on to play professionally in Austria for two years.

King is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida. He and his wife, Charlena, have two kids, Caydance and Yarrah.