Contributors
Andy Kennedy Thanks for the Memories of Which There Were Many
Coach Andy Kennedy. Photo by Joshua McCoy/ Ole Miss Athletics
One of my most favorite coaches in all sports to have graced this campus was Andy Kennedy. The 6’7″ Parade All American forward took us to heights never dreamt here in men’s basketball. Following are only a few.
In Coach Kennedy’s 12 fun-filled seasons, he became the winningest coach in Ole Miss basketball history producing 16 All-SEC selections in the process. Names such as Marshall Henderson, Jarvis Summers, Murphy Holloway, Reginald Buckner, Chris Warren, Jeremy Parnell, Terence Davis, Sebastian Saiz and Stefan Moody (only to mention a few of his great players) still bring smiles when I hear their names etched forever in my memory.
Kennedy now holds 33 school records accomplished during those wonderful twelve seasons here including six NIT bids and two NCAA tournament appearances. And who could ever forget winning the SEC tournament in Nashville in 2013?
The list of Coach Kennedy’s achievements go on and on, but there is another side of this individual that too often falls under the radar and that is what a great human being he is. Coach Kennedy was never too busy or inaccessible to talk with both fans and the media. The few times over the years that I was in his presence were most enjoyable.
In today’s college basketball environment as competitive as it is, all take notice when someone at a historical non-basketball school accumulates nine 20 win seasons and 11 straight winning seasons. Only twenty-three coaches (all-time) have won 100 SEC regular-season games with Kennedy being one of them.
Coaching greatness is also about developing assistants as Kennedy helped our own Michael White to his coaching success story which now finds itself at the University of Florida.
In closing, Kennedy thank you for all of the wonderful memories you made for the Ole Miss family during your twelve year run here. You will be greatly missed and never forgotten. You will go down as one of the
very best Rebel coaches ever. You deserve nothing less! Godspeed.
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
For questions or comments, email hottytoddynews@gmail.com.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | L, 24-17 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | W, 26-14 |
| Thu, Jan 2 |  | vs Duke (Gator Bowl) | W, 52-20 |
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | 11:00 AM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | 8:00 PM ESPN2 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | 3:00 PM TBA |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |
Hoppy Langley
April 17, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Great article Steve. Coach Kennedy did a great job for us and he will be missed.