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Ole Miss’ Kennedy Longest-Tenured SEC Hoops Coach

By John Luke McCord

Feb 9, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy calls a play against the Florida Gators during the second half at Stephen C. O
Feb 9, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy calls a play against the Florida Gators during the second half at Stephen C. O /
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Mar 5, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Andy Kennedy was hired by Ole Miss in 2006 in the month of March, making him the new kid on the block in the rugged Southeastern Conference. Things were much different for the conference’s collection of basketball programs then. The SEC was respected, relevant and full of successful coaches with experience.

In the decade that proceeded that time, AK and the Rebel program have watched the likes of Billy Donovan, Tubby Smith, John Brady, Rick Stansbury, Mark Gottfried and most recently, Kevin Stallings, leave the league. Heck, Bruce Pearl was fired from Tennessee in 2011, only to return to coach Auburn starting in 2014.

Mar 16, 2015; Dayton, OH, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy during practice at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2015; Dayton, OH, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy during practice at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

All in all, Kennedy has watched 24 coaches exit their post in the conference. In fact, he’s even seen the league expand by two teams when Texas A&M and Missouri joined in 2012. Additionally, a former assistant under Kennedy, Mike White, replaced Billy Donovan at Florida last year and just completed his first season.

Claiming the SEC Tournament crown in 2013 and finishing up the season with a narrow loss in the NCAA Tournament round of 32 were unquestionably the two highest of high’s the past decade for Ole Miss. Perhaps a high that topped both of those came in January, however, when the program entered a new era by opening up the brand new Pavilion at Ole Miss.

Since 2006, Kentucky (2012) and Florida (2006 and 2007) have brought home National Championships to the conference and have proven to be the two headliners of the league. However, despite lack of tradition and any semblance of sustained success prior to 2006, Ole Miss has been the third best team in the league during that time period.

Not only has Kennedy won 20 or more games during each of the last 10-years, he has the Rebels averaging 21.2 wins per season. Having said that, just two tournament appearances during Kennedy’s tenure is what has some of the Ole Miss fan base unhappy.

Feb 3, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy reacts in the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Mississippi Rebels during the first half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy reacts in the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Mississippi Rebels during the first half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s easy to be unhappy with just two tournament appearances considering how many times the Rebel hoops program has been left knocking on the door of the Big Dance. In fact, that is the particular area that has been so grossly overlooked. Despite an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen in 2002, the program would experience four consecutive losing seasons prior to Kennedy’s arrival.

Since then, the Rebels have not experienced a losing season under Kennedy. Not only has AK put the program in the spotlight by reaching the big stage, also by recruiting some of the country’s most scintillating stars in Marshall Henderson, Chris Warren and Stefan Moody.

It has been discussed ad nauseam already, but the Pavilion should help Kennedy take the program to the NCAA Tournament more often. It could very well increase the number of wins he annually reaches, which as previously stated, is already north of 21 wins. Lastly, it should impact the fan base in a positive way.

Photo via the Clarion Ledger
Photo via the Clarion Ledger /

Kennedy has long lobbied for more fan support and invigoration, which makes for a more enjoyable game day atmosphere.  It could also satisfy the appetite Rebel fans have for the basketball program to recruit more star power.

Regardless of what the Pavilion could do for Ole Miss basketball, the important thing, is Kennedy not only hung around to see it built and opened, he did so with inconsistent fan support. In fact, Kennedy’s winning has been far more consistent than support for his program.

The day the native Mississippian was hired to bring success the flagship program of his home state, it was hard to envision the program would be where it is now. Much less trying to envision the Red and Blue playing in a cathedral like the Pavilion. But here they are, thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of Kennedy.

Jan 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy (L) talks to Rebels guard Stefan Moody (42) against the Florida Gators at C.M. Tad Smith Coliseum. The Rebels won 72-71. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy (L) talks to Rebels guard Stefan Moody (42) against the Florida Gators at C.M. Tad Smith Coliseum. The Rebels won 72-71. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /

While John Calipari, Bruce Pearl, Frank Martin, Rick Barnes and others will grab the headlines when it comes to SEC basketball coaches, the one who has been around the conference longest will continue to win in silence.

Not only was it hard to envision how far Ole Miss basketball would come 10 years ago, it was hard to see a scenario where the head coach of the Rebels would be the elder statesman of the league’s coaches. That’s exactly what AK would become when Kevin Stallings agreed to leave Vanderbilt for Pittsburg on Sunday.

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