Andy Kennedy (basketball)

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Andy Kennedy
AndyKennedy.jpg
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamUAB
ConferenceC-USA
Record49–14 (.778)
Biographical details
Born (1968-03-13) March 13, 1968 (age 54)
Louisville, Mississippi
Playing career
1986–1987NC State
1987–1990UAB
1992–1993Valencia[1]
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1995South Alabama (asst.)
1995–2001UAB (asst.)
2001–2005Cincinnati (asst.)
2005–2006Cincinnati (interim)
2006–2018Ole Miss
2020–presentUAB
Head coaching record
Overall315–183 (.633)
Tournaments2–2 (NCAA Division I)
11–7 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2x SEC West Division (2007, 2010)
SEC Tournament (2013)
C-USA Tournament (2022)
Awards
NY Post Big East Coach of the Year (2006)
SEC Coach of the Year (2007)
NBC Sports SEC Coach of the Year (2013)

Andy Kennedy (born March 13, 1968) is an American college basketball coach who currently serves as the head coach of the UAB Blazers men's basketball team. He served as head men's basketball coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) from 2006 to 2018. Kennedy was a player in high school at both Winston Academy and Louisville High School. He was a 1986 Parade All-American and he went on to play for North Carolina State and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). On March 20, 2020, he was announced as the seventh head coach of UAB.

Playing career[]

College[]

Kennedy, a 6'7" forward, was a 1986 Parade All-American, as well as the Mississippi Player of the Year at Louisville High School. He started his collegiate career at North Carolina State where he was a member of Jim Valvano's 1987 Atlantic Coast Conference championship team.

Following his freshman season, Kennedy transferred to UAB where he played under another legendary coach, Gene Bartow. From 1988-91, Kennedy was a two-time all-conference performer that led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring at 21.8 points per game in 1991. Kennedy finished his UAB career as the program's second all-time leading scorer with 1,787 points. Kennedy still holds numerous school and conference records.

Professional[]

After graduation, Kennedy played briefly for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets at guard.[2][3][4][5] He later began a three-year professional career abroad, playing in Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and Puerto Rico. Chronic knee problems brought his career to an early end. He had his second ACL tear and subsequently his fifth and final knee operation while playing in Puerto Rico and chose to retire as a player and transition into coaching.

Coaching career[]

Early years[]

Kennedy's coaching career began as an assistant for the University of South Alabama during the 1994–95 season. Since then he has also served as an assistant coach at UAB from 1996 to 2001 and the University of Cincinnati from 2001 to 2005. Kennedy's first head coaching position came during the 2005–06 season when he was named interim head coach for Cincinnati after Bob Huggins resigned. He led the Bearcats to a 21–13 record and an NIT appearance that year. He was named the NY Post Big East Coach of the Year.

Ole Miss[]

In his first year as head coach of Ole Miss, Kennedy led the Rebels to a 21–13 overall record and 8–8 in conference play record to become co-champions of the Southeastern Conference Western division. The Rebels made it to the semi-finals of the SEC tournament, but fell to the eventual champions, Florida. The Rebels then received an NIT berth and won the first round against Appalachian State but fell to the eventual runners-up, Clemson.

In his 12 seasons at Ole Miss, Kennedy became the program's all-time wins leader, as well as the only head coach since World War II to finish with a winning record in SEC play.

Among Kennedy's accomplishments at Ole Miss:

  • Ranks 18th in SEC history with 245 wins
  • One of only 23 coaches in history with 100 SEC regular season wins (only Ole Miss head coach to accomplish that feat)
  • Averaged more than 21 wins per season after the program posted only 21 or more wins three times in 96 years before his arrival
  • Fifth-most wins in SEC history by a coach in his 12 years in the league at one school
  • One of five coaches in SEC history to post at least nine 20-win seasons in first 11 years in the league, joining Billy Donovan, Joe B. Hall, Nolan Richardson, and Tubby Smith
  • Only coach in SEC history to post 11 consecutive winning seasons after taking over a program coming off four straight losing seasons
  • Six consecutive seasons of .500-or-better in SEC play (2012-2017) for the first time in program history
  • Nine 20-win seasons under Kennedy; Seven 20-win seasons in 96 years before his arrival
  • Eight postseason berths and 11 of the program's 20 all-time postseason wins
  • During his tenure, was one of just two teams in the SEC and 14 power conference programs in the nation to have 11 straight winning seasons
  • One of 20 programs in the country to finish in the RPI Top 100 for 11 consecutive seasons
  • Finished with a .500-or-better record against 10 SEC teams
  • Produced 12 all-league guards and 16 All-SEC selections
  • 2013 SEC Tournament Champions
  • 2 SEC West Division titles (2007, 2010)
  • 2 NIT Final Four appearances
  • 2-time SEC Coach of the Year
  • Holds 33 school records (16-team, 17 individual)
  • Tied the school record with 27 wins in 2013
  • Reached 100 wins faster than any coach in school history
  • Nationally ranked for a total of 18 weeks, rising as high as 14th
  • Produced the school's all-time leading rebounder, shot blocker, and 3-point FG shooter
  • Led the SEC in scoring (77.2 ppg) for the first time in school history in 2012-2013
  • In 2007-2008, set school records for longest winning streak and most wins to start a season
  • In 2006-2007, won the most games (21) by a first-year Rebel head coach and received SEC Coach of the Year honors

On February 12, 2018, Kennedy initially announced that he and Ole Miss had agreed to part ways following the 2017-18 season.[6] However, Kennedy resigned effective immediately on February 18, 2018.[7]

UAB[]

On March 20, 2020, Kennedy was hired as the head coach at UAB, replacing Robert Ehsan.[8] In his first year Kennedy led the Blazers to a 22-7 record. The 22 wins were the most by a first year head coach in the NCAA and the most wins for UAB since 2016.[9] Under Kennedy's guide UAB finished with their highest NET ranking in program history along with the program's highest Kenpom ranking since 2011. The Blazers were led by their defense in Kennedy's first year as they finished with the most wins in Conference USA as well as the most series sweeps. They finished 5th in the country in scoring defense while also boasting the 3rd best turnover margin in the NCAA. For the first time in UAB history they had 2 members selected to the conference All-Defense team.[10] Kennedy's first year leading his alma mater saw UAB reach its 4th highest winning percentage in program history and be one of 17 programs in America with at least 22 wins and 7 or fewer losses.[11] Among Kennedy's accomplishments in his first year at UAB:

  • 22 wins (Most by first-year head coach in 2021, Most by first-year head coach in UAB history)
  • 13 wins (Most in Conference USA)
  • 5 series sweeps (Most in Conference USA)
  • 4th-highest winning percentage in program history (76%)
  • Best start in UAB history (7-0)
  • Highest NET ranking in program history
  • Highest BPI ranking since 2011
  • Highest Kenpom ranking since 2011
  • One of 17 programs with at least 22 wins and 7 or fewer losses
  • 5th in the country in scoring defense
  • 3rd in the country in turnover margin
  • First time UAB had 2 members selected to conference All-Defense team

In his second year at UAB, Kennedy has led the Blazers to a school record 27 wins while winning the C-USA tournament and getting the NCAA tournament automatic bid. Kennedy's 49 wins through his first 2 years is the most ever for a UAB coach to start their career. It was the 9th time in UAB history to have 17 wins through the first 22 games and Kennedy is the only coach in UAB history to have at least 17 wins in 22 games in back to back years. In his 2nd season Kennedy averaged over 80 points per game for the first time since Kennedy was a player in 1990. It is the first time ever that UAB has led CUSA in scoring. Guard Jordan Walker won CUSA Player of the Year and Tournament Player of the Year. He has led the program to both their highest NET and Kenpom rankings in school history reaching as high as 40 in Kenpom and 28 in the official NCAA NET rankings. With his 20th win he became one of 6 active coaches to win 20 or more games in 12 of his first 15 seasons. His success at UAB has been impressive as his team is one of the premier in the country at forcing turnovers, turnover margin, scoring margin, and points per game. They were one of 27 teams out of all 358 in D1 that have at least 17 wins through January 30th. The Blazers were in the Mid-Major Madness Top 25 every week of the poll climbing as high as 3rd. The 31 home wins in the first 2 years under Kennedy are the most ever in a 2 year stretch in program history.

Broadcasting career[]

In 2018, Kennedy agreed to a deal with the SEC Network to become a college basketball analyst across the ESPN family of networks. During the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, Kennedy was featured as an in-game color analyst, studio analyst, and sideline reporter covering college basketball.[12]

Head coaching record[]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Cincinnati Bearcats (Big East Conference) (2005–2006)
2005–06 Cincinnati 21–13 8–8 8th NIT Quarterfinals
Cincinnati: 21–13 (.618) 8–8 (.500)
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (2006–2018)
2006–07 Ole Miss 21–13 8–8 T–1st (West) NIT Second Round
2007–08 Ole Miss 24–11 7–9 3rd (West) NIT Semifinals
2008–09 Ole Miss 16–15 7–9 T–4th (West)
2009–10 Ole Miss 24–11 9–7 T–1st (West) NIT Semifinals
2010–11 Ole Miss 20–14 7–9 T–3rd (West) NIT First Round
2011–12 Ole Miss 20–14 8–8 T–6th NIT First Round
2012–13 Ole Miss 27–9 12–6 T–2nd NCAA Division I Round of 32
2013–14 Ole Miss 19–14 9–9 T–6th
2014–15 Ole Miss 21–13 11–7 T–3rd NCAA Division I Round of 64
2015–16 Ole Miss 20–12 10–8 T–6th
2016–17 Ole Miss 22–14 10–8 T–5th NIT Quarterfinals
2017–18 Ole Miss 11–16 4–10
Ole Miss: 245–156 (.611) 102–98 (.510)
UAB Blazers (Conference USA) (2020–present)
2020–21 UAB 22–7 13–5 2nd (West)
2021–22 UAB 27–7 14–4 2nd (West) NCAA Division I
UAB: 49–14 (.778) 27–9 (.750)
Total: 316–183 (.633)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/andy-kennedy-1.html[bare URL]
  2. ^ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Newcomer trying to keep pace in rugged Big East[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: Bartow says Kennedy will force tempo
  4. ^ Ole Miss Andy Kennedy Bio[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Old UAB Andy Kennedy Bio
  6. ^ Goodman, Jeff (February 12, 2018). "Andy Kennedy, Ole Miss to part ways after season". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "Andy Kennedy Steps Down After 12 Seasons, Effective Immediately" (Press release). February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  8. ^ Cobb, David; Norlander, Matt (March 20, 2020). "College basketball coaching carousel: Tracker for 2019-20 coaching searches, changes, hirings, firings". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  10. ^ "UAB's Lovan, Jackson, Jemison pick up C-USA honors". al. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  11. ^ "2021 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings". kenpom.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  12. ^ "SEC Network adds Andy Kennedy as basketball analyst". www.secsports.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
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