Two and a half years ago something happened to one of the greatest people in the world of college basketball.
Bob Huggins' latest DUI was a blessing in disguise for the University of Cincinnati.
Not only would they have a perfectly okay reason to get rid of the coach who had graduated less than five percent of his basketball players, but also the guy that would replace him was primed and ready to coach in big-time college basketball.
Enter Andy Kennedy.
Kennedy, the former UAB shooting guard would lead his former team’s rival on the court as head basketball coach of the University of Cincinnati. Kennedy was an assistant under Huggins from 2001 to 2005 and was his recruiting coordinator so-to-speak.
Finally, Kennedy's coaching career had reached a pinnacle. The guy who started at the University of South Alabama twelve years prior had finally gotten his dream job.
That season as interim coach for the Bearcats, his team went 21-13, 8-8 in the Big East and made an appearance in the NIT quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden.
However, at the end of the season, despite strong student and alumni support, UC President Nancy Zimpher and Athletics Director Mike Thomas opted to not give Kennedy the permanent head coaching position.
His dream job was no longer his job. What could Kennedy do?
With his success at Cincinnati, Kennedy didn’t have to look for jobs. Jobs began looking for him. And when the Ole Miss Rebels came calling, Kennedy answered.
Last season, the Rebels made vast improvements in their basketball program. Kennedy took a team that had previously won 14 games to the SEC tournament and a berth in the NIT, where the Rebels made a second round appearance before falling to Clemson.
This season, the Rebels are sitting at 14-1, losing only to seventh ranked Tennessee on the road at the buzzer.
Kennedy has matured into a great coach to go along with his great personality.
He was named the 2007 SEC Coach of the Year, and it couldn't have happened to a better guy.
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6 months ago
Andy Kennedy is at Ole Miss, not Mississippi State.
6 months ago
you dumb fuck - AK coaches Ole Miss, you stupid hillbilly. Stop talkin' like you know what you're talkin' about and go back to fucking your pet iguana.
from 6 months ago
Thanks for the laugh.
6 months ago
You're misrepresenting the graduation rate of players under Bob Huggins, just like most retarded journalists who, for some reason, want to make him/them look bad. Far greater than 5% of Huggins' players have graduated college.
6 months ago
It all worked out for all 3 guys... Huggins is home in West Va, Kennedy is home down south, and Cronin gets to coach his hometown team
All 3 of them will do well
I cant wait to see UC/West Va at the end of the month
Paging Devan Downey... uh.. how do u like playin for SHITTY south carolina, losin to fuckin unc asheville
6 months ago
it sucked to see andy kennedy go, but we got a GREAT coach named Mick "Huge Cock" Cronin. nobody can sell the university of cincinnati like Mick Cronin can, does, and will. He is a Cincinnati native and a UC alum that is proud of his school and loves it and never wants to leave. You can't say the same thing about Huggs or Kennedy. They both would've left for the right opportunity.
from 6 months ago
Cronin sucks. His teams don't play hard. They are pussies on the boards and never go after a lose ball with any conviction.
6 months ago
Nancy Zimpher was dumb to basically run Huggins out of town. She's one of the worst University presidents that I've ever seen at any school. Good for Kennedy though, he deserved a good job and it's good to see him doing well, he is at Ole Miss though. Cronin will do good things at UC in the years to come, as will Huggins at WVU. It's still hard to replace such a legendary coach.
6 months ago
no, no..you are perfect for the journalism field. Today's "journalists" don't fact check, don't proofread, and above all, don't know what the hell they are talking about. Rock on there Chris, I can see ESPN in your future.
Idiot..
msudawgs64
6 months ago
Is you foot still in your mouth or up your butt with your head?
6 months ago
First, this should have NEVER been published. I exited out before finishing...wtf? Second..I titled this OLE MISS, the editor who edited it fucked it up. Get this off here now!!!!!!
6 months ago
Now, it's done and the headline >I< had is back...and the editor has been notified of his screw up. Sorry for the misunderstanding, MSU fans.
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