College Basketball

Kennesaw State hires new men’s basketball head coach

By The Associated Press and WSBTV.com News Staff

KSU reaction KSU reaction

By The Associated Press and WSBTV.com News Staff

KENNESAW, Ga. — Former Alabama assistant Antoine Pettway was hired as Kennesaw State’s basketball coach Friday.

Pettway takes over for Amir Abdur-Rahim, who led the Owls to their first NCAA Tournament berth this season before being taking the South Florida job on March 29.

Pettway, 40, served on the Alabama staff for 15 years. He played for the Crimson Tide from 2000-04.

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Pettway became the third Alabama assistant to be hired by another school as coach, following Charlie Henry (Georgia Southern) and Bryan Hodgson (Arkansas State).

“This has been an extremely emotional and exciting for my family and me, but I am so grateful to have the opportunity to lead this program and work with an amazing group of people at Kennesaw State University,” said Pettway. “Thank you to President Schwaig, Milton Overton, and Tamica Smith Jones for trusting me to lead this program. I am ready to get started and soar to new heights with the Owls.

Kennesaw State athletic director Milton Overton described Pettway as “a well-rounded basketball coach, elite recruiter and family man with great integrity. His core values, exceptional work ethic, dedication to his players and love for the game is clear through the success Alabama basketball has experienced over the years.”

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Overton said Pettway brings “a well-defined relationship” as a recruiter in Georgia.

“It’s been good to get to know him in the process. His reputation proceeds him, and everyone speaks highly of him in the basketball world,” said Tamica Smith Jones, KSU Athletics Chief Operating Officer. “After interviewing him, it’s obvious he has a brilliant strategic mind, which relates well to his ability to develop outstanding student-athletes and help them onto the professional level. With his ability to build relationships and empower students to be leaders on the court, in the classroom and the community, we are looking forward to working with him and continuing to build upon the success of Owl basketball.”

Pettway was the offensive coordinator as Alabama ranked in the top 20 in the nation in scoring each of the last four seasons.

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