University of Oklahoma Athletics
Men's Basketball
Jesperson, Paul
Paul Jesperson
- Title:
- Director of Player Development/Assistant Coach
Paul Jesperson joined the University of Oklahoma men's basketball staff as director of player development/assistant coach on August 24, 2023.
Jesperson spent the previous three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, serving as player development coach for two seasons from 2021-23 and assistant video coordinator during the 2020-21 campaign.
During the 2022-23 campaign, the Hawks ranked third in the NBA in free throw percentage (81.8%) and points per game (118.4 PPG). Atlanta ranked sixth in the league in points per outing (113.9) in his first season on the sidelines in 2021-22. Former Oklahoma point guard Trae Young was named a 2021-22 NBA All-Star and to the Kia All-NBA third team.
Before his coaching career, Jesperson played collegiately at Virginia (2011-13) and Northern Iowa (2013-16), appearing in 127 career games and making 69 starts. The Merrill, Wis., product averaged 10.8 points per outing as a senior at UNI and shot 42.8% (130-304) from the floor, 39.6% (82-207) from three and 88.5% (46-52) from the free throw line. He finished his career shooting 41.4% (268-648) from the floor, 39.1% (179-458) from deep and 86.4% (76-88) from the line.
During the 2016 NCAA Tournament, Jesperson banked in a half-court shot at the buzzer to give No. 11 seed UNI a 75-72 victory over No. 6 seed Texas in the first round.
He prepped at Merrill High School and was the 2011 Wisconsin Associated Press and Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. During the 2010-11 campaign, Jesperson averaged 22.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per outing. He finished his high school career as Merrill's all-time leading scorer with 1,696 points and established a school record 96 consecutive starts.
Jesperson spent the previous three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, serving as player development coach for two seasons from 2021-23 and assistant video coordinator during the 2020-21 campaign.
During the 2022-23 campaign, the Hawks ranked third in the NBA in free throw percentage (81.8%) and points per game (118.4 PPG). Atlanta ranked sixth in the league in points per outing (113.9) in his first season on the sidelines in 2021-22. Former Oklahoma point guard Trae Young was named a 2021-22 NBA All-Star and to the Kia All-NBA third team.
Before his coaching career, Jesperson played collegiately at Virginia (2011-13) and Northern Iowa (2013-16), appearing in 127 career games and making 69 starts. The Merrill, Wis., product averaged 10.8 points per outing as a senior at UNI and shot 42.8% (130-304) from the floor, 39.6% (82-207) from three and 88.5% (46-52) from the free throw line. He finished his career shooting 41.4% (268-648) from the floor, 39.1% (179-458) from deep and 86.4% (76-88) from the line.
During the 2016 NCAA Tournament, Jesperson banked in a half-court shot at the buzzer to give No. 11 seed UNI a 75-72 victory over No. 6 seed Texas in the first round.
He prepped at Merrill High School and was the 2011 Wisconsin Associated Press and Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. During the 2010-11 campaign, Jesperson averaged 22.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per outing. He finished his high school career as Merrill's all-time leading scorer with 1,696 points and established a school record 96 consecutive starts.
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