This year the university is honoring the most successful basketball coach in university history. Billy Kennedy has been named the 2016 Alumnus of the Year. 

Currently working for Texas A&M University, Kennedy was surprised to hear the news.

“It’s very humbling,” said Kennedy. “I’m thankful and honored and surprised.”

Kennedy graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education while also playing basketball. He is originally from Metairie, Louisiana and he attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans before venturing to Hammond.

Kennedy will return to Hammond on Oct. 21 during Homecoming Week where he will be honored at the Alumni Association’s annual Awards Evening. He shared what he is looking forward to when he returns.

“I’m gonna be there Friday, I’m not gonna be there Saturday, but really just to see some old friends and to just see how much Hammond and the university has changed with all the new buildings and the development of the school,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy has not been to campus in a while and he misses the relaxation of Hammond.

“It was a laid back, relaxed environment, it just had a slower pace than real life,” said Kennedy.

Just over a decade after graduating, Kennedy came to Southeastern as the head basketball coach. He coached the men’s team from 1999 to 2005. Leading the Lions to two Southland Conference Championships, he took the team to the first NCAA tournament in school history and was named Coach of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Association of Basketball Coaches for District 8 back-to-back years. The Southland Conference also named him Coach of the Year in 2004.

Although he does not get to visit often, Kennedy stays in contact with his roots.

“Not only did I coach there a few years back, but I’m familiar with the basketball coach there now and talk with them,” said Kennedy. “I do what I can to support them and help them be successful.”

As a student at Southeastern, Kennedy learned things that he still uses today.

“I learned the importance of managing my time and the importance of being in a position of leadership and caring about other people,” said Kennedy. “There’s no one who doesn’t deserve to be respected.”

Kennedy is now the head men’s basketball coach at Texas A&M.

“I love A&M,” said Kennedy. “The traditions here, the school, the character and the values of the community are very important, so that’s what I love about being an Aggie and working at another great institution.”

As the head coach for the Aggies, Kennedy and his team were ranked number one and advanced to the finals of the Southeastern Conference Championship game last year. He was also named SEC Coach of the Year and the District 21 Coach of the Year from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Kennedy and his team were ranked number 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today/Coaches Poll which gives the school it’s highest national ranking.

Although he is no longer a coach or student at Southeastern, Kennedy offers some words of wisdom for current students.

“The sky’s the limit for you,” said Kennedy. “Getting a degree from Southeastern is going to prepare you for anything in life. There is nothing too big and there is nothing you can’t accomplish; so attack your dreams because you’ve been prepared by your experience at Southeastern.”