By Chris Raimondi, Staff Writer
Jimmy Lallathin, who served as interim head coach for a bulk of KSU’s 2013-14 season, has been named the new head coach of KSU’s men’s basketball team, director of athletics Vaughn Williams announced Thursday. The decision came less than a day after the program announced a mutual separation with former head coach Lewis Preston.
Lallathin took control of the team after Preston took a personal and medical leave of absence on Jan. 2. The team went 3-13 in conference play under Lallathin, winning games against USC Upstate, Stetson and Northern Kentucky. KSU narrowly missed upsets of conference leaders Mercer and Florida Gulf Coast, while the team lost four games by less than six under Lallathin. The team finished 6-25 on the year.
Lallathin came to KSU under Preston in 2011 as an assistant head coach. He spent four years at Miami (Ohio), spending time as an assistant coach, director of basketball operations and administrative assistant.
“I am very enthusiastic about entrusting the men’s basketball program to Jimmy Lallathin,” Williams said. “He has been a part of Owls Basketball for the last three years and understands the culture that we are establishing here at Kennesaw State. He is the right fit at this time.”
“I am humbled and grateful that Vaughn Williams and President Dan Papp have afforded me this great opportunity to become the head coach at Kennesaw State University,” Lallathin said. “KSU is a great institution with a tremendous faculty and student body, and deserves a men’s basketball program that matches that level of excellence.”
The coaching changes come just a week after The Sentinel was told by Williams that Preston would be back with the team “unless something crazy happens.”
“I think I’m going to have to be more involved and on top of [Preston] more than I might want to,” Williams said in an interview with The Sentinel March 13. “…I’ve got to make sure he is fit to lead. I’m going to have to pay close attention.”
It was announced last night that Williams and Preston came to what was called a “mutual agreement” to leave the program after thee seasons. Preston was 9-67 as the team’s head coach since 2011, when he was signed by Williams after academic sanctions forced the departure of Tony Ingle.
Lallathin has declined interview requests from The Sentinel since Feb. 4.
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