Andy Kennedy

Andy Kennedy is the first to admit that it is not under ideal conditions that he gets his first head coaching position. The University of Cincinnati associate head coach was tapped as interim head coach on Aug. 26, following the resignation of veteran mentor Bob Huggins. Kennedy has vowed that he is up to the challenges of mending the shocked program and preparing the Bearcats for their first season of competition in the BIG EAST, whom many think is the best basketball conference in the nation. Kennedy has proven himself both as an astute strategist and a top notch recruiter during his decade of coaching in the college ranks. Kennedy, who joined the Cincinnati staff as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2001, was promoted to associate head coach in 2004. On the floor, he has worked both with the Bearcat guards and has tutored the big men. Kennedy was also intricately involved in developing game plans. When Huggins suffered a heart attack in late September of 2002, Kennedy assumed a larger role in game preparations. During Kennedy[apos]s first three years as the program[apos]s recruiting coordinator, Cincinnati attracted three consecutive Top 10 recruiting calsses with the class of 2002 rated as high as fifth in the nation by Bob Gibbons of All Star Sports, the class of 2003 finishing seventh by both PrepStars and FutureStars, and the class of 2004 receiving 10th by All Star Sports. Kennedy has been exposed to the coaching styles of the late Jim Valvano while a player at North Carolina State, and legendary Gene Bartow at UAB in addition to what he has picked up at Cincinnati the past four seasons. Kennedy previously served as assistant coach at UAB for five seasons, helping the Blazers compile a 90-66 record and make three postseason tournament appearances. The highlight of that tenure was the 1998-99 season when the Blazers tied for the Conference USA regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Kennedy draws from his experience as a standout player on the high school, college and professional levels. The 1986 prep Parade All-American started his career at North Carolina State where he was a member of Jim Valvano[apos]s 1987 Atlantic Coast Conference championship team. He then transferred to UAB where over the next three seasons he became the school[apos]s No. 2 all-time leading scorer with 1,787 points, an 18.8-point career scoring average. The two-time all-conference performer still holds or shares 20 Blazer records, including most 3-point field goals (318), highest career 3-point percentage (.437), most 20-point games (43), most 30-point games (7) and the single game scoring mark of 41 points. Kennedy, who completed his BA in history at UAB in 1991, played professionally for four seasons starting with the NBA Charlotte Hornets. He competed professionally abroad for three seasons, playing in Greece, Holland, Spain and Puerto Rico. Kennedy began his coaching career as an assistant at South Alabama during the 1994-95 season. He returned to UAB two years later after working a year in commercial real estate. He and his wife, Kimber,are parents of two daughters, Meagan (9) and Kaitlyn (5).