Former Kansas University basketball guard Terry Nooner is returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach for Bonnie Henrickson’s KU women’s basketball team.

“He has always been a loyal Jayhawk, and we are happy to be able to bring him back home,” Henrickson said Thursday. “Nobody is better from an integrity and character standpoint — who he was as a player on the men’s side. I’m really excited for him, for our kids and our recruits.”

Nooner, a native of Raytown, Mo., who played at KU from 1997-2000, spent the past school year as assistant coach at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. At KU, he will work Jayhawk perimeter players in addition to recruiting responsibilities.

Prior to that, he coached the girls 13-and-under and 15-and-under teams for the Lady Phenom AAU organization since 2007 and previously coached the Earl Watson Kansas City Bruins 17-and-under boys team in 2006.

Nooner also coached boys basketball at Southeast High School (2002-03, 2007-08) and Raytown High School (2008-09) during his six years of teaching special education at the two schools.

In addition, Nooner served as president of KC Pro Am Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides basketball instruction and served as a personal basketball instructor at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City.

A four-year letterwinner at KU, Nooner was the team captain during his senior season in 1999-2000. He holds two degrees from KU, including a bachelor’s degree in African and African American Studies (2000) and a master’s in sport administration (2002).

“I’m so excited. You know how much I love this place,” Nooner said Thursday. He will officially begin his new duties Friday. “I’ve been hanging around for years (working Henrickson’s camps and bringing AAU players to Late Night in the Phog). To be able to work at KU is a dream come true. I know how much passion fans have for the University of Kansas and basketball in general and I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of it again. To work with a great coach like Bonnie Henrickson and these players … I’m just thankful and grateful for the opportunity.”

Southern Illinois went 8-22 a year ago, 4-13 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Nooner replaces Chester Nichols, who took a position at Michigan.