Former Kentucky assistant and Tulane head coach Shawn Finney has rejoined Tubby Smith’s staff as director of basketball operations, Smith announced Friday. Finney and Leon Smith, assistant athletics director for men’s basketball, will handle administrative duties within the program.

“Shawn is a good friend who understands what it takes operationally for a program to be successful,” Smith said. “His abilities and skills tie in well with the quality staff we currently have in place.”

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work for UK and about having the chance to reconnect with Coach Smith. It’s a tremendous honor. You rarely have a second chance to work at a place like Kentucky, so I feel very fortunate.”

Finney was an assistant coach for Smith at Tulsa (1991-95), Georgia (1995-97) and Kentucky (1997-2000) before accepting the head coaching position at Tulane, which he held from 2000-05. He was an assistant on the Wildcats’ 1998 national championship team. A native of Mullens, W.Va., Finney received his undergraduate degree from Fairmont State in 1985, and his master’s from Tulsa in 1992.