North Carolina State University Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Director of Player Personnel
- Email:
- kdjone13@ncsu.edu
Former student-athlete and graduate manager Kayla Jones was promoted and named assistant coach/director of player personnel of the NC State women's basketball team prior to the 2025-26 season. In her role, Jones serves as a mentor and a role model for the women's basketball student-athletes, while also working with the post players.
She is a liaison and point of contact with several departments across campus and within athletics, and develops and participates in events involving the women's basketball program across the community. Jones approaches her second season in a full-time capacity ahead of the 2026-27 season.
In her first season in her current role, the Wolfpack finished with a 21-11 record and 13-5 mark in the ACC to finish fourth and earn a double bye in the ACC Tournament. NC State made a school-record nine straight NCAA Tournaments and as a No. 7 seed, NC State defeated No. 10-seed Tennessee to earn its eighth second round appearance in the past nine tournaments. In her role, Jones was instrumental in the Wolfpack being more involved in community service and outreach events.
Jones served as the program's graduate assistant during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. She was a part of the Pack's Final Four run in 2024, as well as an ACC Regular Season Co-Championship and the sixth Sweet 16 in the last seven tournaments for the Pack in 2025. In her role, Jones was a lead manager and assisted with the post players. She obtained a master's degree during her time as a GA.
A decorated five-year player at NC State, Jones played for the Wolfpack from 2017-22. She shot 47.6 percent from the field (414-of-870) and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc (119-of-335) during her career. She finished at No. 12 in 3-point percentage (.355) and No. 15 in rebounds (707) in her Wolfpack career.
Jones played a consistent role in the Pack's starting five her last three seasons, establishing herself as the team's "glue" player. She was named All-ACC First Team by the league's head coaches and Second Team by the Blue Ribbon Panel as a senior after being just one of three players in the ACC to average 11+ points, 7+ rebounds and 2.5+ assists per game in 2020-21. In her graduate season, she was an All-ACC Second Team honoree by the league's head coaches. Jones was an instrumental part of the Pack's three consecutive ACC Tournament titles, as well as an ACC Regular Season Championship and NCAA Elite Eight berth in her final season as a player for the Pack.
After her collegiate playing career, Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2022 WNBA Draft as a second round selection and the 22nd overall pick. She then played a year overseas in Monterrey, Mexico and Budapest, Hungary.
The Jamesville, North Carolina product earned her undergraduate degree in sport management from NC State in May 2021 and added a graduate certificate in sport and entertainment venue management in May 2022. As a graduate manager, she earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts/Liberal Studies in December 2024.
COACH MOORE'S TAKE:
"We are thrilled to keep Kayla Jones here at NC State. After helping to lead us to three consecutive ACC Championships and an Elite Eight appearance as a player, she is a perfect fit as a mentor to our current student-athletes. Kayla's experience and outstanding performance on the court and in the classroom has paid dividends the last two years in her role as a graduate assistant. We're excited to have her continue that leadership in a full-time position as our Director of Player Personnel."
