FAYETTEVILLE – Tyler Ulis, the 2016 SEC Player of the Year and consensus first team All-American under current Arkansas head coach John Calipari at Kentucky, has been appointed as an assistant coach for the Razorback men’s basketball program.
Ulis’s professional career was cut short by injuries from a car accident, but he returned to Kentucky as a student assistant coach for the past two seasons. In this role, he participated in all on-court activities, including practices and game preparations. This past summer, he also served as head coach for the “La Familia” team in Kentucky, guiding them to the TBT semifinals.
During his time at Kentucky, Ulis distinguished himself as one of the top players in the nation for the 2015-16 season. He was a consensus first team All-American, earning recognition from nine All-American teams, and was named SEC Player of the Year. He won the Bob Cousy Award for the nation’s top point guard and was also honored as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was one of only two players, alongside Anthony Davis, to receive both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award.
Ulis led the SEC and ranked seventh nationally in assists with an impressive average of 7.03 assists per game, totaling a school record of 246 assists in a season. He also ranked sixth in the SEC in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game, and excelled in free throw shooting, making 167 free throws at an 85.6% rate.
As a freshman, Ulis was named to the 2015 SEC All-Freshman Team, leading the Wildcats to a 38-1 record, with their only loss coming in the 2015 Final Four. Despite only playing two seasons, he ranks 10th on Kentucky’s career assists list with 381.
After declaring for the NBA Draft following his sophomore year, Ulis was selected 34th overall by the Phoenix Suns. He made an immediate impact, earning All-NBA Summer League honors and averaging 7.3 points and 3.7 assists in his rookie season. He played for the Suns until 2018, briefly joining the Chicago Bulls and later finishing his professional career with the Stockton Kings.
A McDonald’s All-American in 2014 and a two-time All-State selection, Ulis is originally from Lima, Ohio, and is currently completing his degree from Kentucky, expected to graduate this December.
ULIS FILE
– **Born:** January 5, 1996, Southfield, MI
– **Hometown:** Chicago, IL (Marian Catholic)
– **Collegiate Career:** Kentucky (2014-2016)
PLAYING CAREER
– **2014-2016:** Kentucky
– **2016-2018:** Phoenix Suns
– **2018:** Chicago Bulls
– **2019-2020:** Stockton Kings
CAREER HONORS
– **2016:** 2nd Round (34th overall) pick by the Phoenix Suns
– **2016:** Consensus All-American
– **2016:** Bob Cousy Award for the nation’s top point guard
– **2016:** SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year
– **2016:** SEC Tournament MVP
– **2016:** SEC All-Freshman OACHING CAREER
– **2021-2022:** Kentucky (Student Assistant Coach)
– **2024–Present:** Arkansas (Basketball Assistant)
