With playing experience professionally overseas and at the NCAA Division II level, Jake Kakar enters his first season as an assistant coach at UMO in 2024-25.
Kakar played five seasons in NCAA Division II and originally started his career at Conference Carolinas foe Barton College before transferring to Barry University for his final three years of eligibility. He totaled 1,429 points, 438 rebounds, and 209 assists in 118 games played and was a three-time all-conference selection in his career. Following graduation, Kakar played two seasons professionally overseas with three different organizations.
Professionally, Kakar began his career with the Wiha Schwenningen Panthers of Germany ProA in 2022-23 before closing the year with GKK Sibenik of the Croatian Premijer liga. In 20 games with Sibenik, he ranked third on the team in scoring with 10.3 points per game. Additionally, Kakar made the semifinals of the Alpe Adria Cup and contributed 13.5 points while converting 43.3 percent from three-point range. In 2023-24, he averaged 10.2 points for KK Tajfun Sentjur in the Slovenia Liga Nova KBM and shot 43.2 percent from the field. He also registered 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
At the collegiate level, Kakar played primarily as the reserve in his freshman season with Barton in 2017-18 before delivering a breakout sophomore campaign with the Bulldogs. In 2018-19, he paced the team with 14.3 points per game while converting 47.3 percent from the floor and set a school record with 87-made three pointers in a single season. Kakar earned All-Conference Carolinas Second-Team honors, as Barton finished with a 22-8 record.
Following two years with the Bulldogs, Kakar transferred to Barry University of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) for his final three years of eligibility. As a junior, he finished second on the team with 12.4 points while adding 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 27 games. The following year, Kakar received All-SSC Second Team and led the Buccaneers with a career-high 15.7 points per game in COVID-shortened season. In 2021-22, he claimed All-SSC Second Team status for a consecutive year after posting a team-leading 15.0 points per game. The Buccaneers closed the year with a 20-9 overall record a made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Kakar earned his bachelor's degree in business management in 2021 from Barry.
