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| Connor Kuykendall is the second consecutive head coach to leave Schreiner to take over an SCAC rival's program. Schreiner athletics photo |
Connor Kuykendall is leaving Schreiner but staying in the SCAC to become the next head coach at Southwestern.
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Southwestern announced the hire on Friday.
"Pirates Athletics is pleased to announce that Connor Kuykendall will be the next head coach for the Southwestern University men's basketball program," Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Glada Munt said in the release. "Coach Kuykendall comes from a successful winning philosophy which he will use to build on the success of the current program."
Kuykendall comes from SCAC rival Schreiner based in nearby Kerrville, Texas where he went 66-69 in five seasons. Kuykendall helped elevate the Mountaineers into the Conference's upper tier, improving their SCAC record from four wins in 2016 to 11 and the top seed in the conference tournament in 2017. The next season Schreiner won the conference tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament. Kuykendall was named SCAC Coach of the Year both times.
Last season Schreiner finished 14-12, 10-6 in conference and a game back of Southwestern and Texas Lutheran for first place in the conference. Schreiner and Southwestern both lost to the University of Dallas in the conference tournament.
Kuykendall replaces Janson Hightower who left Southwestern in Ap[ril to pursue other opportunities. Hightower went 66-65 in five seasons and won the SCAC Coach of the Year last season when Southwestern went 14-12, 11-5 in conference. Janson stepped down to pursue other opportunities outside of coaching. ""I look forward to being around my family more while still being a part of the Georgetown community to support the Pirates as a fan."
The transition leaves Schreiner in a familiar position. Kuykendall is the second consecutive men's basketball coach to leave the Mountaineers for another head coaching job in the SCAC. He succeeded Jimmy Smith who left Schreiner in 2014 for Texas Lutheran. Kuykendall and Smith are also both Mary Hardin-Baylor alums.