The Washington Huskies have lost former forward-turned-assistant coach Quincy Pondexter to a head coaching job with the Chicago Bulls' G-League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls.
Pondexter, a seven-year NBA veteran and 2010 first-round draft pick, formally announced his departure from UW on Tuesday to become the head coach of the Windy City Bulls, confirming August reports that the former Bulls forward was set to return to Chicago for the opportunity, which is his first as a head coach at any level.
"I am incredibly honored for the opportunity to serve as Head Coach of the Windy City Bulls," Pondexter wrote in a post shared to social media. "Leaving the University of Washington is bittersweet. I am deeply thankful to Coach Sprinkle, the players,
staff, Husky Nation, and the entire UW community for welcoming my family and I back, and allowing me to be part of such a special program. The relationships I built and the lessons I learned during my time at UW as a student, athlete, and a coach will stay with me throughout my coaching career. I am a Dawg forever."
"Becoming a head coach has always been a dream of mine, and I am excited to take this next step as I look forward to developing our players both on and off the court, building a strong culture, and competing daily. My family and I are excited to begin this new chapter in Chicago, and I am grateful to everyone who has supported along the way. Let’s get to work!"
I am incredibly honored for the opportunity to serve as Head Coach of the Windy City Bulls.
— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) September 1, 2026
Leaving the University of Washington is bittersweet. I am deeply thankful to Coach Sprinkle, the players, staff, Husky Nation, and the entire UW community for welcoming my family and I… pic.twitter.com/aWpu1v4OT6
Prior to his second return to Montlake since his playing days under ex-coach Lorenzo Romar from 2006-10 last year, Pondexter spent one season at USC as an assistant for Eric Musselman in 2024-25 along with fellow Husky Will Conroy. Before his departure with Conroy, another assistant who left after Mike Hopkins was fired after the 2023-24 season, Pondexter spent three seasons with Hopkins as an assistant coach following his retirement from the NBA in 2019.
Sprinkle has hired a pair of new assistants to fill the void of Pondexter and DeMarlo Slocum, another assistant who wasn't retained this offseason, with former Marquette assistant DeAndre Haynes and 25-year NBA assistant Charles Klask coming to Seattle for the upcoming 2026-27 men's basketball season.
Former UW guard Abdul Gaddy also remains on Sprinkle's staff, as does longtime associate head coach Andy Hill, who has been with Sprinkle at both Montana State and Utah State, his two previous coaching stops before Seattle.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Quincy Pondexter Announces Departure From Washington Basketball
