SACRAMENTO, CA ---- The Sacramento Kings today announced the hiring of Chris Jent as an assistant on Head Coach Michael Malone's staff.

"Adding Chris to our coaching staff provides the team with a coach who will remain loyal to the mission of returning this franchise to prominence," said Malone. "He's experienced at the professional and collegiate levels, is extremely well-prepared, and has made a significant contribution in every stop along his coaching career."

Jent, 43, joins the Kings from Ohio State, where he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater since 2011. With Jent, the Buckeyes were 60-15 over the last two seasons, earning a Final Four berth in 2012 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2013.

He spent 10 seasons playing professionally, including two years in the NBA. He was a member of the 1994 NBA Champion Houston Rockets and also played for the New York Knicks during the 1996-97 season. Jent spent five seasons in the CBA and also played overseas in Australia, Italy, Spain and Greece. Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers (2003-04) and Orlando Magic (2004-05). At Orlando, he coached the final 18 games of the 2004-05 season after Head Coach Johnny Davis was relieved of his head coaching duties. Jent was also the Cleveland Cavaliers director of player development from November 2006 to 2009, before being promoted to assistant coach. Jent was instrumental in the team's success as the Cavaliers posted a franchise-best 66 wins and finished the regular season as the NBA's top defensive squad, holding opponents to a league-low 91.4 points per game.

Jent played four seasons (1988-92) at Ohio State and helped lead the Buckeyes to three straight NCAA tournaments and back-to-back Big Ten championships. He played in 123 games and scored 1,007 career points, which included 112 made three-pointers. Jent's career .382 three-point field goal percentage ranks eighth all-time in Ohio State history.