BIRMINGHAM – Andy Kennedy was named the seventh head coach of the University of Alabama at Birmingham men’s basketball program, Director of Athletics Mark Ingram announced March 20. Today, the Department of Athletics held his introductory press conference at Bartow Arena.
Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), fans and media were not permitted at the press conference and a limited number of UAB employees attended.
Director of Athletics Mark Ingram opening statement:
We’d like to welcome everyone who has joined us through Facebook from around the world. This centrality is a unique way to conduct a press conference, but these are unique times, so we appreciate everyone’s participation and understanding. The reaction from our fans over the last few days has been exactly what we expected when we approached Coach Kennedy about being our next head coach. The number of positive comments from our fans through social media, email and text messages have been overwhelming and I’d like to thanks everyone for those.
Ingram on initial conversation with Coach Kennedy:
It was clear from our first conversation with Coach Kennedy that he was the obvious choice to be our next head coach. He owns a number of UAB career scoring records as a player and as a coach his record is even more impressive.
Things that stuck out to me when I asked him, “Why UAB and why now?” he said, “It would be my personal mission to put UAB basketball back to where it once was. I want to win a championship – not just this year – but every year. I want UAB basketball to be a Top 20 program.”
That is the kind of tenacity we are looking for in our next head coach. Dr. Watts and I have discussed many times, and agree that UAB athletics can be a great program in every sport we have. It’s clear Coach Kennedy feels the same way. I’d like to thank Dr. Watts, Chancellor St. John and the entire board of trustees for their support throughout this process.
Given the magnitude of how the events surrounding the coronavirus have impacted all of us, and the volume of work they have done collectively to protect the campus communities at our three campus system and beyond, it took a lot of swift and decisive action to get us here today and I’m grateful for that.
Coach Kennedy opening statement:
I’d like to start by thanking Dr. Watts, Mark Ingram, my athletic director and the UA System Board of Trustees. I am humbled and honored to be standing in front of you today as the seventh head coach in this storied program’s history. As Mark said, we are living in unusual times, hence a press conference with no people. I want to give you my heart felt sentiments to all that have been directly affected in an adverse way during this troubling and confusing time. But I know this, I know that Birmingham is strong. I know the UAB community is strong. I know the state of Alabama is strong and together this too, we shall overcome.
Kennedy on moving to Birmingham:
When my time at Ole Miss ended in 2018 after a 12 year run in the SEC, my family could have moved anywhere. We chose Birmingham. This has always been our home away from home. My wife Kimber and I are both proud UAB graduates. My daughters Meagan and Kaitlyn were both born in Birmingham. Meagan is finishing up her M.B.A. at Samford and Kaitlyn is at our neighboring school down south as a sophomore at Auburn. This place has always been very special to us and we are excited to be back.
Kennedy on UAB’s history:
In 1977, when Gene Bartow left Westwood in Los Angeles at UCLA – the pinnacle of college basketball – to come to the Southside of Birmingham to start UAB athletics, he did so with a vision to create a nationally relevant basketball program.
In year three, 1981 – led by two Birmingham natives – Coach Bartow led the Blazers to the Sweet 16. In 1982, they doubled down and advanced all the way to Elite 8, awakening the college basketball world that Southside of Birmingham is serious about college basketball. It is now my charge, my mission to bring us back to our rightful place on the college basketball landscape. With your help, that will become our new reality.
Kennedy on his first home game as a Blazer:
My first home game as a UAB Blazer was ironically enough the first ever in this building, Bartow Arena, December 3, 1988. Coach Bartow and our Blazers were going against another legend, C.M. Newton and the Vanderbilt Commodores in front of a sell-out crowd. That night, a skinny, spiked haired, cocky with a Robocop looking knee brace sophomore helped UAB to a 76-69 victory creating a special memory in this program’s history.
Kennedy on his vision as UAB head coach:
It is now my charge, with your help, for us to create more special memories. With your help, we can fulfill Coach Bartow’s vision for this program. Because I know together we will win as one.
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2020-21 UAB men’s basketball season tickets are on sale now. Current basketball season ticket holders can click here to renew their seats for the upcoming season. Fans interested in purchasing new season tickets can do so starting as low as $100 with the Blaze’s Corner season ticket.
For questions regarding your 2020-21 UAB Basketball season ticket order, email the UAB Athletics Ticket Sales and Service team at tickets@uab.edu or call (205) 975-UAB1. Ticket representatives are working remotely at this time but can be contacted during normal business hours of 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM. Fans can also request more information on ticket options for the upcoming season here.
For more information on the UAB men’s basketball program, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram. Also be sure to follow @CoachAK13 on Twitter.
