Roundup: Friday, December 20th
A football staff addition, a transfer announcement, and the anniversary of Andy Kennedy's first game coaching against UAB.
ON THIS DAY IN UAB HISTORY
1994 — Andy Kennedy coaches his first game against UAB
After graduating from UAB in 1991, Andy Kennedy bounced around the professional basketball ranks for three years, spending time in Spain, the Netherlands, and Puerto Rico before retiring due to knee problems. By September of 1994, he had been named a “restricted-earnings” coach at South Alabama, meaning he was entitled to just $12,000 in compensation per academic year.
“I have always aspired to be a coach, and this is a little sooner than I anticipated,” Kennedy said at the time of his hiring, referencing his injury-shortened professional career.
Kennedy’s first coaching season was marred by turmoil less than a month into its infancy. After the Jaguars suffered two humiliating December losses to Southern Utah and Evansville, falling to the former by 68 points and to the latter by 46 points, USA head coach Ronnie Arrow was forced to resign on December 16th. With UAB looming in what was then a meaningful rivalry game, assistant Judas T. Prada was promoted to interim head coach, and the reshuffled Jaguar staff was tasked with preparing its 1-4 squad for the 6-4 Blazers.
In only his sixth career game on the sidelines, Kennedy went head-to-head against his mentor Gene Bartow and emerged victorious; it would be the first of four times Kennedy would coach against UAB, going 2-2 in those games. The Jaguars throttled the Green and Gold 105-86, holding the visitors to what remains one of the worst shooting performances in school history. The Blazers attempted an unfathomable 103 field goals, connecting on just 33 of them. After the loss, a frustrated Bartow told the media: “We’re just not a very good team. We don’t shoot very well. We’re not very physical. We don’t draw charges. We don’t dive on the floor for loose balls. We’re just soft,” a postgame speech eerily similar to the ones Kennedy delivers after losses today.
Prada and company were not retained at season’s end. Kennedy would spend the next year in commercial real estate before joining Murry Bartow’s inaugural UAB staff in 1996.
FOOTBALL
Footballscoop is reporting that Trent Dilfer is adding Alabama State defensive coordinator Ryan Lewis to his staff.
Lewis was a standout linebacker at Bethune-Cookman in the early 2010s and enjoyed a brief NFL career.
Before his 2022 arrival at Alabama State, Lewis spent time as a defensive coordinator at DII Edward Waters College and as a quality control coach and linebackers/special teams coach at Bethune-Cookman.
According to Footballscoop’s Zach Barnett, “Lewis is regarded as one of the rising stars in the profession after a 3-year stint at ASU that saw the Hornets post numerous top-10 rankings in FCS. Alabama State has ranked among the top 10 nationally in scoring defense each of the past three seasons.”
Steve Irvine expects Lewis to coach cornerbacks under new UAB DC Steve Russ after the departure of Kenneth Gilstrap to FIU.
According to Irvine, UAB will be “working the portal hard until the dead period begins Monday” and will be “incredibly busy once the calendar changes,” expecting to host a significant number of recruits in the opening weeks of January.
Former UAB C Brady Wilson has committed to Virginia.
Former UAB S Adrian Maddox will visit Nebraska today and Florida tomorrow. He visited Arkansas and Louisville earlier this week and has also been linked to Miami and Missouri. On3 expects him to commit to Nebraska.
Sophomore DT Miquon Merriweather announced his intention to enter the transfer portal yesterday.
Merriweather signed with UAB in 2023 as a freshman out of Columbus, Georgia.
He appeared in ten games in 2023, recording 11 total tackles.
He was considered a potential breakout player before the 2024 season began but only appeared in one game, recording no statistics.
Merriweather is the 29th UAB player to enter the portal this offseason, a full list of whom can be found at The Banner.
Former UAB head coach Bryant Vincent interviewed for the open Jacksonville State job but has decided to remain at ULM after the school “agreed to increase support for the coach and program,” per Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.
Former UAB head coach Bill Clark also spoke to Jacksonville State officials about the job but withdrew himself from consideration. The Anniston Star speculates that Clark’s decision could be tied to his pension plan.
MEN’S SOCCER
Although unlikely to be selected this year, sophomore forward Tony Kim is eligible for today’s MLS SuperDraft, which begins at 1 PM CT. The draft is not available to watch live, but picks can be followed on the MLS website.
College players who are sophomores and above are eligible for the SuperDraft. It is the MLS equivalent to the NBA or NFL drafts, although it is greatly diminished in importance due to of the prevalence of youth academies and international signings.
In my conversation with him before the 2024 season, UAB men’s soccer coach David Lilly praised Kim, saying: “Tony Kim is one who didn't get a ton of playing time last year, but since we've been working together this spring, he's been one of the best players. He's been very good, he scored a hat-trick in the first spring game of the season. He's really worked very, very hard and he's got some good ability. He’s going to be one who will be keeping an eye on in the fall for sure.”
Kim proved Lilly correct, appearing in 13 matches, leading the Blazers in shots on goal, and anchoring the most prolific UAB offense of the last five seasons. The sophomore was rewarded for his efforts with an All-Conference Second Team selection.