Troy University Athletics
Anthony Winchester Joins Troy Men’s Basketball as Assistant Coach
6/11/2026 2:52:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – Troy men's basketball head coach Adam Howard announced the hiring of assistant coach Anthony Winchester on Thursday afternoon.
Winchester helped guide Kansas State to a run to the 2023 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight during a four-year tenure with the Wildcats, which included three seasons as an assistant coach after beginning as the program's Director of Video Operations.
"Anthony and I were college teammates, and he's been someone I've known for over two decades," Howard said. "He is a former Sun Belt Player of the Year and spent close to a decade playing professionally. Coach Winchester has a work capacity that is second-to-none, and his attention to detail and organizational skills separate him from a lot of people. Anthony will be a huge part of players' development on and off the floor, and I'm excited to welcome him and his family to Troy."
Kansas State posted 61 wins during his time on staff and made back-to-back postseason appearances (2023 NCAA Tournament, 2024 NIT). The Wildcats recorded 16 victories over AP Top 25 opponents during that stretch, including seven wins against Top 10 teams.
"This is a special opportunity for my family and me," Winchester said. "To be a part of Coach Howard's first staff after our relationship began as teammates at Western Kentucky is something I don't take for granted. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to join Troy basketball. From the moment we arrived, our family has felt welcomed by the university and the Troy community. We're excited to put down roots here, build meaningful relationships, and help continue the success of this program."
During the 2022-23 season, Winchester played a key role in one of the nation's top turnarounds, as the Wildcats won 26 games and advanced to the Elite Eight after being picked last in the Big 12 preseason poll. He helped develop All-Americans Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson, who became the first duo in program history to earn Associated Press honors, both being named Third Team selections. Nowell also earned the Bob Cousy Award, while Johnson was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Additionally, Winchester assisted in the development of four more All-Big 12 performers: Coleman Hawkins (2024-25), Arthur Kaluma (2023-24), David N'Guessan (2024-25) and Tylor Perry (2023-24). He also played a role in assembling nationally ranked recruiting and transfer classes, helping bring in a mix of Division I transfers, international standouts and top high school prospects.
Prior to Kansas State, Winchester spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach on Jay Ladner's staff at Southern Miss. He also served as the program's video coordinator during the 2019-20 season.
Between his two stints at Southern Miss, Winchester was the Director of Basketball Operations at Pacific during the 2020-21 season under Damon Stoudamire.
Winchester served as a graduate assistant at Loyola Marymount in 2018-19, helping the Lions win the Jamaica Classic Championship and advance to the CBI Final Four while posting one of the top win totals in program history with 22.
He received his start in coaching with two seasons at his alma mater, Western Kentucky, as a graduate intern and Director of Operations from 2008-10. During that stretch, the Hilltoppers won 46 games, captured a Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
A standout player at Western Kentucky from 2002-06, Winchester scored 1,732 career points to rank among the top 10 in program history. A two-time First Team All-Sun Belt selection, he was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year and an Associated Press honorable mention All-American as a senior. He also earned Freshman of the Year honors and helped lead the Hilltoppers to three postseason appearances, where he was a teammate of Howard's from 2004-06.
Following his collegiate career, Winchester played professionally in Spain and Puerto Rico, earning LEB Gold Player of the Year honors in 2013. He concluded his professional career in Spain's 1st Division, ACB, widely regarded as one of the best in the world outside of the NBA.
Winchester earned his bachelor's degree in sociology/criminology from Western Kentucky in 2006. He and his wife, Mckenzie, have three children: sons Beckham and Stony, and daughter Ella.
