Kennesaw State’s department of athletics announced on Thursday, Feb. 21, that men’s basketball Head Coach Al Skinner will be stepping down from his position at the end of this season.
Skinner began his tenure at KSU in the fall of 2015, having been most well-known for his success at Boston College. He led the Eagles to seven NCAA tournaments, as high as a No. 3 national ranking in 2005 and finished as the program’s all-time leader in wins.
During his time with the Owls, Skinner coached players such as Yonel Brown, Kendrick Ray, Aubrey Williams, Nick Masterson, James Scott and Tyler Hooker.
After seeing improvements during his first two seasons, the basketball team’s record dwindled over the next two years following the departure of several key players.
Without that core group of consistent scorers, the team struggled to find an identity heading into this season, culminating in the 5-24 record they currently hold.
As of Saturday, Feb. 23, Skinner has accrued a 40-82 overall record at KSU, including a 22-34 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Despite the struggles on the court, Skinner has been credited for his mentorship and positive force toward the young men he has coached.
“We certainly appreciate the time coach Skinner has spent at Kennesaw State,” Director of Athletics Milton Overton said. “He has invested in the lives of countless student-athletes over the years and we wish him the best in the future.”
Finding a new coach is just one aspect to work on for a team that has shown flashes of potential over the years, despite records that would suggest otherwise.
For all of Skinner’s past achievements, the local recruiting trail was an area that was not fully utilized during his tenure. Of the current roster of 14 players, only three players are from the state of Georgia and only one is a regular participant.
Although the current plans to improve the team need to be long-term, next season can be positive as only two players will graduate this season. Lead scorer Hooker along with consistent starters Bryson Lockley and Isaac Mbuyamba will return.
