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DePaul's Kennedy
Resigns After Five Seasons
From Conference
USA
CHICAGO � DePaul University's
Men's Basketball Coach Pat Kennedy announced today that he will step down
from the post he has held since joining the Blue Demons in 1997.
"This was probably the single most difficult decision in my professional
career, but I believe it is extremely important to know why you're going
somewhere and why you're leaving," Kennedy said. "I feel very strongly in my
heart that I came to DePaul for all the right reasons, and I have decided to
step aside at this time for all the right reasons."
Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw praised Kennedy's tenure. "Pat came to
DePaul at a tough time and he helped us reconnect with Chicago players and
Chicago-area fans," Bradshaw said. "Pat engineered one of the most
remarkable turnarounds in basketball history. He represented DePaul well
during his time with us and I thank him for that."
Kennedy said his first several seasons went according to plan, but that
changed. "In our first three years, my outstanding assistant coaches and I
had a vision that became a reality-from three wins to the NCAA tournament,
the largest crowds in the history of Alumni Hall, Allstate Arena and the
United Center, and tremendous TV exposure. We've even had a youngster on the
cover of ESPN magazine.
"Those were all things that were in our control and were part of a plan, but
in the last few years, things developed that were out of our control. The
program began moving in a direction that was not beneficial. I never
anticipated that we would lose five youngsters to the NBA in a two-year
period of time."
Kennedy said that he discussed potential plans to resign with his family and
made a final decision on Saturday. "I developed a strong sense that this is
the most honorable and productive thing for the university, the program and
my family. Like all decisions, there comes a final point in which you have
to pull the trigger. For me, it was this past weekend." On Sunday, he
informed Bradshaw.
Kennedy expressed thanks to the entire DePaul community, the administration,
students, alumni and fans. "Above all, I want to thank the young men who
have played for me, in particular that first recruiting class of Quentin
Richardson, Bobby Simmons, Lance Williams and Rashon Burno. If anyone
changed the direction of DePaul basketball, it was these four."
Kennedy said he and his family are looking forward to the future with
excitement.
"I've been very fortunate in my career to be just a phone call or two away
from other avenues and opportunities, so we are eager for our next
challenge."
In five seasons at DePaul, Kennedy compiled a 67-85 record. Kennedy's
22-year career record is 393-276. He led the 1999-2000 squad to the NCAA
Tournament (the school's first NCAA berth in eight years) after finishing
second in the Conference USA Tournament. Kennedy also took the 1998-99 squad
to the second round of the NIT. His teams posted three wins over top 10
squads during his tenure, beating third-ranked Cincinnati in 1999,
10th-ranked Florida in 2000 and 10th-ranked Missouri last December.
Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Doyle said he appreciated Kennedy's
contributions to the program. "Many good things happened under Pat's
leadership. I have a great deal of respect for him, and I consider he and
his wife Jeannie friends. I wish them the very best."
Bradshaw announced that DePaul would immediately launch a national search
for a new coach who can continue rebuilding the team into a nationally
competitive program. "Our goals for the team include a strong support
network for students' academic and athletic development, as well as
finishing consistently in the top third of the conference, maintaining a top
25 ranking annually and making regular appearances in the NCAA tournament,"
he said.
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