BIRMINGHAM – On April 6, UAB head men’s basketball coach Andy Kennedy announced the addition of Philip Pearson, Ryan Cross and Sidney Ball to his staff. UABSports.com will provide fans with an introduction to these new Blazers, with today featuring Ball.
A 2005 UAB graduate and member of the 2004 Sweet 16 team, Ball returns to alma mater after spending the last six seasons across town as an assistant coach at Samford.
How does it feel to be home again at UAB?
It is so good to be back at UAB. I’m excited to get a chance to work at my alma mater. To have the opportunity to coach on the court I played on and see what Coach Kennedy brings back to Birmingham is unbelievable.
You have a pretty unique path into coaching, can you take us through your journey in athletics after graduation?
After I graduated, I went to Nuremberg, Germany to play, but it didn’t work out. So I came back to Birmingham to do an internship in UAB’s academic department. My academic advisor, Judy Sackfield, connected me with Cedric Sparks. He is the Chief of Staff of the Mayor’s Office, but at the time he was Director of the Division of Youth Services for the City of Birmingham. Mr. Sparks helped me get a job there.
Six months later, a position opened up at UAB as an academic advisor, which I accepted. I worked at UAB for six years in academics. Then I moved on to Georgia State University in 2011 where I was the Assistant Director of Academics. I also had the chance to coach AAU there. Then, I went to Mississippi State two years later, also in academics. That’s when Scott Padgett called me about a position on his coaching staff at Samford. This was the opportunity I always wanted – utilizing academics to get into athletics – because you can’t have one without the other. I knew my experience in both academics and basketball can take some of the pressure off a head coach.
How has working in academics tailored you as a coach?
Working in academics gave me a different avenue to reach the student-athletes. I believe that basketball will take care of itself, but at the end of the day, you need to leave school with your degree. Whatever you put in on the basketball court, that’s what you are going to get out of it. Same thing in the classroom. I try to correlate academics and athletics with the players, that has helped me out a whole lot as a coach.
You’ve been in Birmingham for a long time – what are some of the things you like doing here?
Other than the three years when I was at my other jobs, I’ve been in Birmingham since the Fall of 1999. I’m a relaxed kind of guy, and working in a stressful business, you need some stress relief sometimes. One of my favorite spots in the jazz club, The Perfect Note, as well as comedy clubs. I also enjoy Top Golf, but sometimes I get a little too competitive like I did while playing basketball. Anytime I can relax and enjoy family time is important to me.
Two part question – What is your A) Favorite UAB moment as a player?
The 2003-04 basketball season has so many great memories. From beating Cincinnati, who was ranked No. 17, to hitting a last second shot to beat South Florida. And the game in the NCAA Tournament against Washington when Demario Eddins’ block helped us win 102-100 that set us up to play Kentucky. Of course the great Mo Finley hitting the game-winning shot that propelled us into the Sweet 16. The reason that moment is so dear to me is because that is something that the school had not done since 1982. That is definitely a special moment.
B) Favorite UAB moment as a student?
When the Blazers football team went down to Baton Rouge and beat LSU my sophomore year, in the Fall 2000. We were all in the dorm rooms watching and cheering. When we kicked the game-winning field goal, we went running up and down the street, celebrating the win and enjoying ourselves. We were glad for the team to go down there and get that big win. That’s definitely one of my favorite moments as a student at UAB.
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.
