Troy University Athletics
Basketball (W)
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- craigkennedy@troy.edu
- Phone:
- 5717
Craig Kennedy begins his fifth season as an assistant coach under Michael Murphy at Troy University this fall, and 31st season overall.
Kennedy arrived at Troy from Georgia Southern University, where he served as the associate head women’s basketball coach. In his first year at Georgia Southern, Kennedy was the offensive coordinator and helped the team to the Southern Conference finals where they lost, in double overtime, 97-95 in what was called the greatest game in conference tournament history. The following year, Kennedy was named Associate Head Coach and the team defeated the University of South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference, and narrowly missed defeating the University of Alabama on the road. Kennedy helped recruit GSU’s first-ever All-Freshman conference team member, Ashley Melson, and then the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in Carolyn Whitney.
Before coaching at Georgia Southern, Kennedy served as an assistant coach at Auburn University from 2001 until 2004. At Auburn, he worked with the posts and assisted with recruiting and scouting. During his tenure, the Tigers won the WNIT championship in a come-from-behind-win on the road at Baylor University.
The next season, the Tigers beat North Carolina State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to the eventual national champions Connecticut. Mandisa Stevenson and LeCoe Willingham, the two starting posts on that team, went on to play in the WNBA. While at Auburn, Kennedy helped recruit All-Conference performers Natasha Brackett, Marita Payne and Stevenson; along with SEC All-Freshman Alexis Ogubie. While Kennedy was at Auburn, the Tigers finished 78-45 (.634 winning percentage) and four players went overseas to play professionally.
Kennedy started coaching at the age of 17, while a senior in high school, coaching the junior varsity basketball team. He then became an assistant coach at the University of Winnipeg and was a part of the three-time CIAU (Canadian University) National Championship team. While an assistant there, the team recorded a record of 101-2 over a three-year period and tied UCLA’s North American record of 88 consecutive victories. Kennedy worked with the posts at Winnipeg, and saw two of his players travel overseas to play professionally.
By the time Kennedy’s tenure was up at Winnipeg, the team amassed a 121-18 record with a .870 winning percentage and won three consecutive CIAU champions.
During his time in Canada, Kennedy also served a season as the interim head coach at Trinity Western University. As the interim coach for the women’s basketball team, Kennedy led the team to their highest national ranking in school history at 13th, and also their best finish in school history by finishing third in the conference. The team set six new school records, and Kennedy was rewarded for his hard work as the runner-up for the 1993 BCCAA Coach of the Year award.
