TicketsAug. 26, 2005
Press Conference Quotes
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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Andy Kennedy, a member of the University of Cincinnati coaching staff for the past four years, has been named interim head basketball coach at UC.
Kennedy succeeds Bob Huggins, who is stepping down as UC's head coach after reaching a settlement with the university on the remaining term of his contract.
"We have great confidence in Andy and that he will manage and run the program at a high level during this interim period," stated UC Director of Athletics Bob Goin in making the appointment. "Andy has a good feel for our program and our student-athletes and he will be given the same authority that a head coach would have in this situation."
"The decision for me to step aside, effective January 1, will permit the university to identify and select the next Director of Athletics, and then let that person evaluate the program during the season before conducting a national search. I would assume Andy will get serious consideration during that process," Goin said.
Kennedy joined the UC staff in 2001 as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He was elevated to associate head coach last season.
On the court, Kennedy worked with the Bearcat big men for the first three seasons before turning his attention to the guards last year.
He has attracted attention for his efforts in recruiting. During Kennedy's first three seasons as UC's recruiting coordinator, Cincinnati attracted three consecutive consensus Top 10 recruiting classes. The class of 2002 was rated as high as fifth in the nation by Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports. The 2003 class was ranked seventh by both PrepStars and FutureStars, and the 2004 class was ranked No. 10 by All-Star Sports.
Kennedy has compiled a decade of experience as a college assistant. He previously served as assistant coach at his alma mater, UAB, for five seasons, helping the Blazers compile a 90-66 record and make three postseason tournament appearances. He began his coaching career as an assistant at South Alabama in 1994.
A 1986 Parade high school All-American, Kennedy started his college playing career at North Carolina State where he was a member of Jim Valvano's 1987 Atlantic Coast Conference championship team. He then transferred to UAB where over the next three seasons he became the school's No. 2 all-time leading scorer with 1,787 points, an 18.9-point career average. The two-time all-conference performer still holds or shares 20 Blazer records.
Kennedy, who completed his bachelor's in history at UAB in 1991, played professionally for four seasons, starting with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. He played abroad for three seasons in Greece, Holland, Spain and Puerto Rico.