Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Director of Player Personnel
- Email:
- kdjone13@ncsu.edu
Former student-athlete and current graduate manager Kayla Jones has been promoted and named Director of Player Personnel of the NC State women's basketball team. In her new role, Jones will serve as a mentor and continue to be a role model for the women's basketball student-athletes. She will be a liaison and point of contact with several departments across campus and within athletics, and will also develop and participate in events involving the women's basketball program across the community.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to stay home and give back to a program that has given so much to me," said Jones. "I want to express my gratitude to Coach Moore and the staff for trusting me in taking on this bigger role. I'm excited to work with this team and watch the players grow and develop on and off the court throughout their careers at NC State and beyond."
Jones has served as the program's graduate assistant for the past two seasons, 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 sits 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 on 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-straight 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."
