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Adams joins the Southern Miss staff as an assistant coach after spending two seasons at Tarleton State. Adams joined Billy Gillispie's staff in the summer of 2023 and focused his day-to-day activities in recruiting for the Texans.
“I am very grateful for Coach Ladner and Southern Miss for the opportunity to join this renowned program," Adams said. “Coach Ladner has a long track record of success at the Division I, Junior College and High School levels. I'm excited about the guys we have and I think we have a good chance to compete for the league championship this season.”
In his first season on the Texan bench, he was a part of a staff that broke multiple records in Tarleton State's Division I era.The Texans set a new record with 25 overall wins, the 20th 20-win season in program history. Tarleton registered 16 wins in WAC play, the highest in any conference in program history. During the regular season, the squad knocked off eventual WAC Champion, Grand Canyon, 77-74, in front of a sold out Wisdom Gym crowd. Tarleton State was one 17 NCAA Division I teams this season to register 10 road wins this season and was the only reclassifying team to accomplish the feat. Tarleton climbed up to as high as 129 in the NET rankings, their highest as a Division I program. the Texans also orchestrated a perfect 8-0 month of February, one of five schools to do so in 2024.
In the Texans second postseason eligible season, the unit earned its highest WAC Tournament seed finishing second in the WAC with a 16-4 record. Tarleton reached the WAC Semifinals for the first time in program history. The Texans ran off a pair of win streaks that were the longest in its D1 era, with a six game streak early in the season, and a 10-game streak during WAC play.After the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas, the Texans accepted a bid to host their first postseason tournament in Wisdom Gym in its Division I era, the College Insider.com Postseason Tournament presented by BSN SPORTS. The Texans knocked off Texas Southern in the opening round before defeating Abilene Christian for the third time this season to earn the Lou Henson Classic Championship. Tarleton reached the semifinals of the CIT presented by BSN SPORTS, its longest postseason run in its Division I era.
Individually, the Texans earned their most postseason honors since joining the WAC. Jakorie Smith became the first Texan to earn First Team All-WAC. KiAndre Gaddy was the fourth different selection as WAC Defensive Player of the Year since the award's inception in 2016. Gaddy also was named a top 25 finalist for the Lefty Driessel Award, the nation's top defensive player. He joined freshman Emmanuel Innocenti on the All-Defensive Team. Tarleton was the only school to earn two players on the five-man team this season. Innocenti also earned a nod to the WAC All-Freshman Team.
Tarleton established themselves as one of the top teams statistically in the WAC as well. At the end of the regular season, Tarleton was in the top 3 in nine statistical categories, including topping the league in four. Tarleton led the WAC in fewest turnovers per game (13.1), turnover margin (+ 3.0), steals per game (9.0) and free throw percentage (75.2%). The Purple and White were second in field goal percentage (45.3%) and Assist to Turnover ratio (1.14). Finally, the Texans were third in the WAC in assists per game (13.2), scoring margin (+ 5.1), and opponent turnovers per game (14.5). Nationally, the Texans were in the top 40 in three different categories. Tarleton had the 18th most steals per game, 26th highest turnover margin, and 36th most turnovers forced per game.
Adams has spent four years as a head coach of a junior college as well as two seasons as an assistant coach. During his coaching career, Adams has mentored two All-Americans, 14 all-conference selections and has helped 41 players reach the Division I level.
Adams was also the Director of Player Development at Texas Tech under his father, head coach Mark Adams. Adams spent the 2022-23 season in Lubbock.
Before the Red Raiders, Adams was the head coach at New Mexico Junior College for four seasons. Adams led the Thunderbirds to a 63-21 overall record and 32-16 mark in conference play in three competing seasons during his four-year tenure. The 2020-21 season was canceled due to Covid-19. In each of the three seasons, NMJC reached the Region V seminals and at least a third place finish in the conference. Adams brought the Thunderbirds back to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2014-15 in his first season with the program.
Adams spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas. He spent one season as an assistant coach under Jason Sautter. He helped push the team from a last place (14th place) conference finish in the season prior to his arrival to an eight place finish in his first year. The Saints reached their first Region VI Quarterfinal since 2015.
He began his collegiate coaching journey as an assistant coach for Steve Green at South Plains College. South Plains earned third place in the National Tournament following a 29-0 regular season campaign. During his two seasons at South Plains, the squad was 53-11.
Adams enjoyed a four-year playing career at Texas Tech under Tubby Smith and coach Gillispie. He played in 64 games with seven starts in his career. During his freshman campaign under Gillispie, Adams scored a career-high 15 points against Kansas State. During the summer before his junior season, Adams starred for the USA Deaf National Team in Bulgaria. He started in seven games averaging 10 points, 3.9 steals, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists. The squad earned a bronze medal.
Adams' dad, Mark Adams, is currently an assistant coach at Ole Miss and was previously the head coach at Texas Tech. Adams graduated from Texas Tech in 2014 earning his undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science and also in 2015 when he earned his master's degree in Sports Management.
