Al Skinner didn’t promise wins at Kennesaw State, at least not right away, but in his introductory news conference Tuesday he pledged to build a men’s basketball program that will be successful on the court and in the classroom.
“We will remember this day as the foundation of men’s basketball,” Skinner said. “These young men that are returning will help us build this.”
Skinner hasn’t been a head coach since 2010, when he was dismissed after 13 mostly successful seasons at Boston College. He led the Eagles to seven appearances in the NCAA tournament as part of a 247-165 record. Before coaching Boston College, he led Rhode Island for nine seasons, going 138-126 with two appearances in the NCAA tournament. Skinner has mostly recently been an associate head coach at Bryant University.
Athletic director Vaughn Williams said Skinner agreed to a contract that will start with an annual salary of $175,000. The number of years is being discussed, but Williams said they are discussing a five-year contract that will include various bonuses.
Williams seemed to take a jab at Kennesaw State’s two previous coaches, Lewis Preston and Jimmy Lallathin, both of whom Williams hired despite their lack of head-coaching experience, in his comments about Skinner.
“Wanted to make sure, this time around, we could find someone who had been there and done that,” Williams said. “A seasoned veteran, not one who hypothesizes how to win, but has won. Has graduated players, has been to the NCAA tournament, that student-athletes love to play for, that is respected in the basketball community.
“We wanted that type of leader and found him.”
The Owls are 22-102 in the previous four seasons under Preston and/or Lallathin, who was reassigned within the department in early March before resigning last week. Williams, as he has for the past month, declined to discuss Lallathin on Tuesday, answering every question asked with versions of, “It’s Al Skinner’s day.”
Williams said he began to take note of Skinner when they worked together at Boston College, where Skinner was twice named the Big East Conference coach of the year.
“To be on the ground and to see what he did, what he was about, what he stood for, that was a neat thing,” Williams said. “It’s always followed me. Excited this time around that he was able to see where we are going and that this was a fit.”
Skinner praised Kennesaw State’s players, saying that they have the right attitude to turn around the program.
He said they will form the core of the team that will try to do that. Supplementing that group, Skinner said his recruiting philosophy will include a mix of high school players, junior college players and possibly some transfers. There are seven scholarship players on the roster, with six spots available.
He acknowledged that he knew only a little about the Atlantic Sun Conference, but pointed out the Owls won’t play any of those teams for a few more months, during which he can learn.
“Clearly the most important thing is what happens in league play,” he said. “We have to get ourselves ready for that. As I told them, I’d like to think that we will be better in January, February and March than in December.”
Skinner has reviewed some film of last season’s team, but said he couldn’t offer a fair valuation until he sees the players together. Skinner said he would meet with the assistant coaches Tuesday to discuss their futures. He offered no hint if any will be retained.
Skinner said his teams will be known for three things: playing defense, playing smart and playing tough.
“Opponents will know they have played Kennesaw State,” he said.
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