Auburn men's basketball hires Texas Tech's Corey Williams as assistant coach

The vacancy on the Auburn men’s basketball staff has been filled. Texas Tech's Corey Williams will fill the assistant coach position left open by the departure of Wes Flanigan, who left Bruce Pearl and Auburn to join Chris Beard’s inaugural staff at Ole Miss.

"I want to thank God and Coach Pearl for an amazing opportunity to join his staff," Williams said. "Coach Pearl is a proven winner in every sense of the word. My family and I look forward to being a positive attribute to his staff, the university and community. I am truly thrilled and look forward to Coach's mentorship and helping him win more championships in the near future."

Williams is originally from Twiggs County, Georgia, and played point guard at Oklahoma State from 1988-92. He was selected in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.

"We are very fortunate to be able to attract a coach with the kind of experience, character and reputation as Corey Williams," Pearl said. "Not only was he a great college and pro player, but Corey is also a terrific coach and an even better person. A Macon, Georgia, native, he and his family are excited about moving to Auburn and being closer to home. It's going to be a great fit with our Auburn Family."

Williams, who spent the past two seasons on the Texas Tech staff, has over 20 years of college coaching experience, including as the head coach at Stetson from 2013-19. 

Williams’ coaching career has taken him to the SEC before, as he spent two seasons on Eric Musselman’s Arkansas staff from 2019-21 before joining the Red Raiders.

Williams joins Steven Pearl and Ira Bowman as the three main assistants currently on the Auburn men’s basketball staff. Steven Pearl is entering his seventh season as an Auburn assistant coach, while Bowman is entering his sixth.

The transition from Flanigan to Williams marks the first assistant coach change on Bruce Pearl’s staff in five seasons.