Kennesaw State hires Skinner as basketball coach

Kennesaw State has hired Al Skinner to be its next men’s basketball coach.

Skinner, once the coach of Boston College, replaces Jimmy Lallathin, who was reassigned within the athletics department without an explanation from athletic director Vaughn Williams after 1 ½ seasons in charge, including 10-22 last year in the Atlantic Sun.

Skinner will become the program’s third coach in three years, following Lallathin, who replaced Lewis Preston mid-season in 2013-14. The Owls have records of 6-25 in 2013-14 and 3-27 in 2012-13.

Skinner is recently an assistant coach Bryant. He coached Boston College for 13 years, leading them to the NCAA tournament seven times. In addition to his time at Rhode Island from 1988-97, he has a win-loss record of 385-291.

Like Williams, he has a degree from the University of Massachusetts, where he played collegiately.

Skinner has no other college basketball ties to the metro Atlanta area.

Kennesaw State has completed an internal review of its men’s basketball program that has been ongoing for almost a month following the reassignment of Lallathin. Williams has repeatedly declined to say the reason for the review or what was being reviewed.

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