The University of Mississippi Athletics
Press Conference: Andy Kennedy and Ross Bjork
2/12/2018 | Men's Basketball
Head Coach Andy Kennedy
Opening statement…
"For those of you who know me, I have always prided myself in being direct and in being accountable. So, with that, I would like to address this ominous cloud that seems to be hovering over our program. I woke up Sunday morning with a true conviction that there needed to be some clarity as it relates to the future of Ole Miss basketball moving forward. I have been truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to be a head coach in the Southeastern Conference in my home state for 12 years. That is a true blessing, this I know. I also know that it is time for a new voice and a new vision for this program moving forward. With that said, at the end of this season I will be stepping down in my role as the head coach of Ole Miss. I have too much respect for this University. I have too much respect for this position of being a head coach in the SEC to allow any speculation about my job status to create a divisive distraction on this program and the people that support it. I am at complete peace with this decision, I truly am. I appreciate Ross and the working relationship that we have, which allows us to talk candidly and frankly that now is the time to move the program forward."
On if he wants to coach next season…
"I want to coach today. I am going to coach today. I just want to try to get this team to play the way I believe it is capable of and again, I am a man that walks by faith and truly I am anxious to see what the next opportunity is, whether that be coaching or what have you. That's all I know. I have been doing this for 27 years, as an active participant in college basketball. Four years playing, 10 years as an assistant coach and then one year at Cincinnati plus these 12, 13 as a head coach. This is only the second time in those 27 I have ever been a part of a losing program in February, so this is a little bit different for me as well. I just feel like the time is right. I know it may be a little unorthodox."
On advice he would give the next coach coming in…
"This landscape has completely changed. From 2006 a lot has changed. It started with the practice facility and now it culminates with this magnificent facility (The Pavilion). It has been a great shot in the arm moving forward. The landscape has changed and I think, honestly, the foundation is set. It is ready to take that next step. I am regretful that I couldn't get it there, but I am also accountable for that. I want to see it get there and I think that it can."
On where he thinks the season went wrong…
"We knew SEC play would be difficult. The league is good. Top to bottom it is as good as it has been in my 12 years here. I think the numbers are bearing that out. I knew we had some issues, but every team has issues and this team is no different. I didn't foresee some of the things that have transpired and again, I am accountable for that. It is my responsibility. I haven't been able to reach this team like I would have hoped. Again, that is my responsibility. I try not to be frustrated. I think frustration is such a wasted emotion. I try not to be that, but we are constantly trying to figure out how to get this group to play. Saturday, it kind of dawned on me. I spoke briefly in the beginning about this ominous cloud. I don't want the rest of the season to be about Andy Kennedy's status. Are you for him or are you against him? I didn't want it to be about a divide across our fan base. I respect this too much for that. I don't want people to have to choose a side. I want everyone to be on the same side and that is moving the program forward. I also didn't want our guys with social media to be weighing them down. I hope this is liberating for them. I hope we can go out and play the way we have shown capable and finish this right."
On his message to the team…
"Basically that we preach awareness, discipline and accountability. I am going to model that for them now with this decision. I am aware of what is happening in the program. I am aware of where I am and what my role is moving forward. I want to be disciplined in the approach and not get caught up in the unnecessary emotion that divides us. I want to unify us. I want to be accountable. I am the head coach here and everything that happens within this program is my responsibility. This season has not gone as well as we would have hoped and I am accountable for that."
On his thoughts Sunday morning…
"On Saturday, I spoke with John Brady, who I go back with from the early 80's, and the first question out of his mouth was 'Are you alright? What's going on?' and that kind of set the tone that he was right, there is this cloud that is hanging. Then I talked to our TV partners about the game and then my future and I don't want it to be about me and my status. That is not fair to these guys, so I just wanted to get ahead of it. We can all read the writing on the wall. I just want to be clear and distinct. Let's get out of the shadows and let's own where we are so we can be liberated and play the way I hoped we could."
On if he would be interested in television work…
"I'm not sure. I have a face for radio. I don't know. I am not thinking about anything other than getting our team prepared for Arkansas. We have opportunities that I will put my full focus on. That is my responsibility to the guys on our team."
On if he speaks with the future coach regarding what Ole Miss needs to do moving forward…
"My best advice would be: recruit hard, evaluate well and surround yourself with good people. It is not a hard science. I told our team, obviously it didn't resonate before the LSU game, listen to your coaches, trust your teammates, and do your job. The next coach has it set where he doesn't have a facility issue. He doesn't have the little brother SEC basketball syndrome. The SEC Network has been tremendous as it relates to exposure coast to coast. This job has never been better."
On what he thinks his legacy is after leaving this season…
"I think there will be time to walk down memory lane. I am not sure today is that time. I have been very fortunate to have had this opportunity. I have had a lot of great people that have helped. This was like pushing a rock up a hill for a long time, and now that is no longer the case. At least you have an opportunity. There have been so many people that have helped us in that quest. Many people have asked me what I attribute 12 years to. I think Will Wade was the 39th different head coach I had faced in the SEC, I think that's pretty staggering number when you think about it, but really its simple: God's grace and hard work, in that order."
Vice Chancellor of Intercollegiate Athletics Ross Bjork
Opening statement…
"Thanks for being here today. I really appreciate coach's comments. Today's news might be a little surprising, or the timing of it might be a little surprising. It is also a time that we celebrate Andy Kennedy's dedication and hard work for Ole Miss Basketball. As a Mississippian, when Ole Miss needed him, Coach Kennedy answered the call and came home and built this program into one of the most respected basketball programs in the country and the SEC. We have been a consistent performer under Coach Kennedy. This year, as Dean of the SEC coaches, Andy Kennedy always did it the right way. He was consistent, he always worked extremely hard every single year, he maximized the resources when he first arrived and then he helped force a vision to increase our resources. We have the best basketball practice facility in the country in the Tuohy Center. The Pavilion at Ole Miss is the best basketball arena in the entire country. He pushed that vision. He changed the mindset and the culture of Ole Miss Basketball. This foundation will live on for a long time. As our all-time winningest coach in Ole Miss history, we will take the next few weeks to walk down memory lane and celebrate all he has done for the program. We are going to thank him for his 12 years of service. He deserves it. So how did we get to this point today? When I first met Coach Kennedy we had to iron out his contract back in April of 2012 in New Orleans at the Final Four. We have always had a respectful working, diligent, honest relationship. The thing I love about Andy, he is a realist. He is not afraid of expectations. He is not afraid of reality. The media, you guys know his favorite line, "you are what your numbers say you are", so Andy and I have been on the same page. We have continued to communicate throughout, and we had a great discussion in late December about the team, the program and what lies ahead. We both talked about and expected this team to make a run in SEC play and make a run towards postseason. Andy's teams are known for just that. We continued to talk. We met again on Friday and discussed the last few weeks of this season and then he called me on Sunday and said he was ready to step down at the end of the season. We both agreed it was best for the program. We talked through details and yesterday and last night we decided that this was the right decision. Doing it today is actually the right time. In the final analysis, Coach Kennedy feels he needs a new platform and I believe our program needs a new voice, a leader who can build upon the foundation that is in place thanks to Andy's leadership. Andy will coach our team; he will lead our team the remainder of the season. We have six regular season SEC games left. We have a postseason tournament to play; we hope we make a run. We just met with the team and the staff; they are going to work hard. They are going to stay focused and lock in and finish this season strong. As we conclude Andy's 12 years of service at the end of this season, we need to thank him. We appreciate the hard work and dedication that he has given. We want to thank his family and want to wish them well in their future. They will always be a part of our program. Thank you, Coach Kennedy."
On if a decision has been made on the signees…
"No. The coaching staff has been in touch with them already today. I will have a chance to communicate with them at some point in time. The hope would be that we hire a new head coach and that coach will talk to those signees and talk about what's best for the program and those young men."
On when a hiring process will begin…
"It's new obviously. Coach called me yesterday and said he wanted to do this today. The more I reflected on it, let's do it today, let's lift the lid and like he said, liberate the team and the program. We will start that process and put some thoughts together starting tomorrow. As Coach said, and give him credit, this allows us to start a process and not have to worry about disrespecting him or the profession. We can start now. We will put a plan together starting tomorrow and be aggressive about hiring the best coach."
On if Andy Kennedy will have input in the hiring…
"He is a resource in college basketball. He is well respected, so I think based on our relationship, we will have a dialogue on what the program needs and who are the right people out there, but now is about wanting to win the last six games, finish strong and focusing on that. There will be a time for that."
On if there will be a buyout…
"Yes. We will honor the terms of his contract."
On what he is looking for in the next coach…
"The best coach. That could fit a lot of different things. Obviously, recruiting is paramount. That foundation, we have a lot to sell, we have resources, we have made a commitment and are willing to do more to move ahead. This is a great job. This is a destination job and now we have this building, the Tuohy Center and the SEC better than it has ever been. This is an attractive job in college basketball. We will go after the best coach. Whoever that is, what their background is will be determined to find the best coach."
On being the lowest salary pool in the SEC…
"We are going to ask donors to invest in this program. That is obviously resources, money, and we know that the salary pool needs to be increased. We are going to look at what the market is telling us. Money is a part of it, but so is mentality. We need our fans to continue to make this a home court atmosphere. Last Tuesday night, that wasn't the case. We need to make this a consistent mentality approach, that everyone is in this thing together. There is no more divide, and I give Andy credit for making this decision now, giving us the opportunity to move forward. It goes to a lot of different things, not only money, but also mentality how we treat basketball and we are ready to embrace all of that."
On an ideal timeline to hire a new head coach…
"This gives us some clarity and allows us to start a process. We know the landscape is always going to be changing. It is different this year with all the things happening in college basketball. I think you have to be very careful in your search process. Whatever the timeline is to hire the best coach, that is what we will stick to."
