The Coach: Billy Kennedy and the art of proving the doubters wrong

See also: Billy Kennedy named SEC Coach of the Year, five Aggies make All-SEC teams.

As Billy Kennedy finished cutting down the nets in celebration of Texas A&M’s Southeastern Conference basketball championship on Saturday, I kind of expected him to turn the crowd and flash the “No. 1” sign.

I just wasn’t sure which finger he’d use.

That’s a joke, of course. Kennedy has way too much character and is much too classy to resort to such gestures.

But could you really have blamed him if he’d addressed his detractors among the A&M fan base by asking: “How do you like me now, witches?” Or, something like that.

There is no doubt Kennedy has heard and/or read the critics that have called for his dismissal and questioned his abilities as a coach.

That was clear in the press conference following the Aggies’ 76-67 victory over Vanderbilt when he gave thanks for the support he’s gotten at A&M.

“The support has been tremendous from the administration, most of the fans and a lot of loyal supporters,” Kennedy said. “We’re really thankful to be part of a special run.”
 
Most of the fans have been supportive. Still, there has been a very outspoken group that has relentlessly bashed Kennedy.

They’ve accused him of destroying the program. They attacked him for having a mild-mannered personality. They’ve suggested he’s incompetent. They’ve maintained he cannot win at a high level.

When he proved them wrong by delivering A&M’s first conference championship in 30 years, they gave credit to assistant coach Rick Stansbury for A&M’s rise.

No matter what Kennedy does, some Aggies just won’t give him the respect for a job well done.

He took over a declining program in 2011. He had health issues. He had to rebuild a minimally talented roster. He had to dismiss players. He had bad luck with injuries.

Last year Kennedy appeared to have won over most of his detractors. The Aggies were 20-8 and appeared destined for the NCAA Tournament.

Then, Danuel House broke his left foot. A&M suffered three straight losses and had to settle for the NIT.

That added fuel to the 'fire Kennedy' crowd.

It’s not that uncommon for a team to collapse when a star player is injured. It happened at A&M in 1994. The Aggies were tied with Texas for first place in the closing weeks of the Southwest Conference race. Then, Joe Wilbert sustained an eye injury in a loss to SMU. Losses to Baylor and Texas Tech followed. The Aggies eventually ended up in the NIT.

It happens at other places, too.

Cincinnati was ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2000 when Kenyon Martin broke his leg in the first game of the Conference USA Tournament. The Bearcats were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Tulsa.

After last season, Kennedy vowed A&M would reach the 2016 NCAA Tournament. He’s made good on that promise.

Kennedy’s team could win a game or two in this year’s NCAA Tournament. That would be a remarkable accomplishment considering A&M has reached the Sweet Sixteen just twice in school history.

Speaking of accomplishments, on Tuesday the SEC named Kennedy Coach of the Year. It marked the fourth such award in Kennedy's career — one in the Southland Conference while coaching Southeastern Louisiana, two as the coach at Murray State in the Ohio Valley and now one in the SEC.

Other programs surely have noticed what Kennedy has accomplished and are likely impressed.

If LSU opts to make a coaching change would Kennedy, a New Orleans native, be a candidate for that job? If so, would he take the call?

He should, but probably would not.

Kennedy strikes me as being more loyal to A&M than maybe some Aggies are to him.

Yet, the main reason I think he would stay is that he worked so hard to recruit freshmen Tyler Davis, Admon Gilder and D.J. Hogg.

That trio, along with sophomore Tonny Trocha-Morelos, should form the nucleus of a talented team for the future.

And as Kennedy continues to recruit well, he could be flashing that No. 1 sign again and again.

He’ll be using the index finger, of course.