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3 potential replacements for Andy Kennedy at Ole Miss

By Brad Berreman

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Andy Kennedy (C) of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during his team's game against the Utah Utes during day one of the Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah won 83-74. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Andy Kennedy (C) of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during his team's game against the Utah Utes during day one of the Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah won 83-74. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
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Andy Kennedy is out a little quicker than expected as Ole Miss men’s basketball coach, but here are a few options to replace him.

Just last week, Andy Kennedy announced he would step down as Ole Miss men’s basketball coach, effective at the end of the season. But he changed course on Sunday, choosing instead to leave his post immediately while citing a detriment to the players from his continued presence after back-to-back double-digit losses.

Tony Madlock will take over as interim head coach for the final four regular season games, and however long the team lasts in the SEC Tournament. But the Rebels, with an 11-16 record right now, will need to win the conference tournament to make it to the NCAA Tournament and an NIT bid isn’t happening with anything less than that.

Kennedy has been the most successful coach in Ole Miss history, with a 245-156 record (.611 winning percentage) over his almost 12 full seasons. There’s no way to easily replace him, but there is a solid foundation to be built on in men’s basketball at a football-centric school.

Here are three candidates to replace Kennedy at Ole Miss.

3. Kermit Davis

Davis has roots at rival Mississippi State as a player and coach, but he is also a native of Mississippi that could see Ole Miss as a great opportunity. He may even get an endorsement of the situation in Oxford from Kennedy, who he is long-time friends with.

Davis is nearing the end of his 16th season at Middle Tennessee, with a 22-5 record this season and a 329-185 overall record. There’s comfort and serious job security in that kind of success, but Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork has to find out if Davis wants to move to a higher profile job.