Arguably the best coach in Ole Miss basketball history, Andy Kennedy has decided to step down at the end of the year. What options does this leave the program in finding a successor?
In the 100+ year history of Ole Miss basketball, the Rebels have been the definition of .500 basketball. The program have rarely been a laughingstock, but also have rarely been on an elite level.
That changed former Cincinnati head coach and current Ole Miss leader Andy Kennedy, who guided the Rebels to at least 20 wins in nine of his 12 years at the helm. He also lead the school to a couple of NCAA tournament appearances, which is impressive considering the nearly 100 years prior amassed just six trips to the big dance.
But after two straight NIT trips, as well as the team being tied for second to last in the conference standings in the SEC, Ole Miss and Kennedy announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the year. In my personal opinion, this smells more like a firing, but this could be beneficial for Kennedy. He could go to a school with more built-in basketball resources anywhere else in the country, and possibly have more success.
As for Ole Miss, it’s time to turn the page. The program is not in a position to get the hottest name out there, unless it’s a regional candidate. That’s why the Rebels getting out there in the coaching search early will be crucial for them to get the big fish needed to make this basketball program a perennial contender in the conference.
Ahead in this piece, I’ll give you five reasonable targets for Ole Miss to go after. It’ll be based off of these three attributes:
- Recruiting ability (both high school and transfers)
- Development of players
- Winning experience
So without further ado, here’s my options for the next basketball coach.