Behind the Ole Miss Bench: The Andy Kennedy Story
By Brad Logan
He often looks outside to the front of the house. Now, all Frank Kennedy sees is a lone creosote pole. “If that pole could talk,” he added. The pole in questions once housed a basketball backboard and goal. The nets? They were replaced more time than he can recount. The reason being, his son Andy learned to shoot on this goal.
Ask his #1 rebounder, his sister Julie. Mr. Kennedy recalls the duo wouldn’t come inside before Andy made 100 free throws in a row. Being his sister was nine years younger, the older brother won the argument every time.
A few dozen rims and a few hundred nets later, a star was born.
Andy Kennedy was born to Frank and Mary Kennedy on March 13th, 1968 and was welcomed to the family by his brother Steve. His sister Julie would follow and the story of arguably the most successful head coach in Ole Miss history would begin.
The numbers bear that out, mind you. With an overall record of 192-114, the closest any coach is B.L. Graham with 144 wins. It took him 13 seasons to do it. Kennedy just completed his ninth. Compound that with a 78-72 record in the Southeastern conference and two NCAA tournament appearances and I’m not sure there’s a debate.
“He was a great kid growing up,” Mary Kennedy recalled. “I can remember many a nights all I heard was the popping of the net. I never worried about Andy. He was either outside in the driveway, at the church gym or his high school gym. He loved basketball.”
While most kids Kennedy’s age were cruising the town, Frank Kennedy never levied a curfew on his youngest son. “He never had one,” he added. “I knew where he was at all times. Didn’t need a curfew. I would see neighbors and they asked me how long he shot in the yard? He shot buckets all during the night,” said Kennedy.
If you’re wondering who was more athletic, his mom or his dad, it was neither. “We didn’t play sports. I believe Andy just loves the game of basketball and worked as hard as I’ve ever seen anyone work,” Mary Kennedy said. “I told all of our children, you do what you think you need to be successful and we will support you all the way. I’m so proud of all three of my kids,” she added.
As a youngster, Kennedy excelled in all sports. When he was only eight, he made it to a tournament in Memphis, TN as a punt-pass-kick champion. “We were on the road with all of the kids. Steve was a very good football player and Julie excelled in tennis but Andy played it all.” Mary Kennedy said while chuckling. “When he began to get older, I really believed baseball was his calling. He was very good.” she added.
As Kennedy began the eighth grade, things began to shift. The basketball bug bit hard and by the time he was in the ninth grade, he hit a growth spurt and the sky was the limit.
“The recruiting letters began to come in and he began to be recruited hard in the 10th grade. Things really heated up.” Frank Kennedy said.
While playing at nearby Winston Academy in the ninth and tenth grade, winning the 1983 state championship with a game high 28-points, he was tabbed as an all-state selection for both seasons.
The decision was made to transfer to Louisville High School. For many that remember, Louisville is a school with a rich high school football tradition. So much so, Kennedy would see a different head coach in his 10th, 11th and 12th grade seasons.
“That was tough,” Mary Kennedy remembered. “Andy didn’t let it get to him. He was self-motivated and he pushed through.”
Kennedy would see two additional all-state selections come his way, along with, the 1996 Parade All-American accolade and the Mississippi High School Gatorade Player of the Year award.
As the recruiting continued, his senior year was a whirlwind, according to his dad. “I had to screen phone calls. It was all over the place with coaches coming by. To be honest, it wasn’t anything to have Wimp Sanderson, Bob Boyd, Jim Valvano, Larry Brown and Dale Brown in our house recruiting Andy,” Kennedy said. “You remember John Brady who is the head coach at Arkansas State? When he was an assistant at Mississippi State under Bob Boyd, he was practically a member of our family. I could tell Andy was bothered by telling him no. He worked really hard recruiting Andy” Kennedy added.
When the day came to make a decision, many say media outlets from the entire southeast were there. “I think I remember 15 or 16 TV stations covering the signing day ceremony. In the end, he was sold on Jim Valvano and N.C. State.” Frank Kennedy said. “Andy knew these coaches and their offenses better than they did. He studied tape and watched every game he could.”
“I remember Andy asking me what Bobo Boyd would think about my decision. He asked me if I thought coach Boyd would be fired for me heading to N.C. State. I said he’d be fine. Bob Boyd was fired the next week,” Frank Kennedy said with a laugh.
Many wondered why Kennedy headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference and North Carolina State. If you recall, the Wolfpack were just three years removed from a national championship. The lure of playing on the national stage proved to be the key. In 1987, Kennedy led the ‘Pack to an ACC tournament championship.
The Kennedy family is a strong one. In fact, that bond would have Kennedy headed south for the remainder of his collegiate career. “My father was sick and Andy was very close to him. He wanted to be closer to his granddad and that was one of the reasons he transferred,” Mary Kennedy said. “We are a close group. Andy always made his own decisions and we supported him. He’s been wonderful to us and we love him for that.”
It was a move that paid off. Per olemisssports.com, Kennedy would end up as UAB’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,787 points, while leading the Sun Belt Conference in scoring his senior season averaging over 21 points per game. “It was nice for us. I would head to Birmingham quite often and it was nice being able to watch him play more often.” Mary Kennedy added.
Not all was lost after the stint at N.C. State. All of the Kennedy’s lives would change one day in the training room when a Wolfpack trainer taped the ankle of a Wolfpack basketball player. “We met in the training room one day. Fitting I know,” Kimber Kennedy recalls. “Mike Bianco met his wife Camie the same way at LSU so it must be an Ole Miss thing,” she said.
“When I made the decision to transfer to UAB, I didn’t know anyone. I remember getting to Birmingham and Frank and Mary were waiting on me. They welcomed me to their family with open arms, helped me move into my apartment and did more than you know. They truly are salt of the earth people. I’ll never forget that,” Kimber Kennedy remembered.
“I wasn’t sure if Andy would coach after his playing career ended but I know whatever he did, he would be successful with parents like Frank and Mary. I was 100-percent certain of that,” she said.
With the success at UAB, Kennedy headed for the professional ranks with a stint with the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. His career would take him overseas to Greece, Holland, Spain and Puerto Rico before finally deciding to enter coaching. “Injuries took its toll on Andy. With five knee operations, I think he knew coaching was next. Like all of his decisions, we supported him. He knew that and he knew where his career was headed,” added Frank Kennedy.
The former basketball player now began his coaching career as an assistant coach. Following one season at South Alabama, Kennedy began honing his craft under his former coach and legend Gene Bartow at UAB for five season before Bob Huggins called at Cincinnati.
“Huggins was a talker and Andy knew he could coach. I think he was going to do all he could to soak up as much knowledge to get ready and be a head coach and took the job,” Frank Kennedy said. After one season as interim coach at Cincinnati, Frank and Mary Kennedy’s phone rang and Andy Kennedy was on the other end.
Andy was coming home.
“When Andy called and said he was coming home to Mississippi it was very emotional, very emotional. He got on a plane at midnight and we’ve never looked back. I remember our phone didn’t stop ringing with all the well-wishers,” Frank Kennedy said.
When it is all said and done, Mary Kennedy is a mom and a very proud one. “I’m proud of all three of my children. As a mom, that’s all you could ask for. Our life is our family and after five years of retirement, we’re going strong. The love we share is more than I could tell you and I can’t thank of a better way to spend our time together,” she added.
The Kennedy family continue to sit together at the home basketball games, a trend that continues in the new Pavilion at Ole Miss. As you would imagine, each are reserved and clap when necessary. Well, all but wife Kimber who is a bit more enthusiastic. “We leave the coaching up to Andy,” Mary Kennedy added.
When the Kennedy family takes their seat, no matter the venue, it is much more about love and support than wins and losses. From talking to them, love and support are the only thing that matters.
(NOTE: A special to OleHottyToddy.com with portions originally ran in Rebel Nation Magazine. Follow them on Twitter: @RebelNationMag)
