Back on the hardcourt: Former FSU hoops coach Pat Kennedy starts new job at Jefferson County
Pat Kennedy is settling into his new job and Tallahassee home.
The former Florida State men’s basketball coach in mid-June was named the athletic director and boys basketball coach at Jefferson County K-12 in Monticello, 37 miles east of Tallahassee.
Kennedy, 70, who spent 31 years as a Division I men’s basketball coach and led FSU to the NCAA Tourney five times during his 11-year tenure (1985-87), says he’s enjoying his return to the work force.
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'Really enjoying it'
He started at Jefferson County K-12 last week in preparation for the start of school Wednesday. The Tigers are in the FHSAA's Class 1A rural division and offers boys and girls sports.
“I’ am really enjoying it – it has been a lot of fun for me,” said Kennedy, who was involved in basketball in retirement, instructing in camps and clinics and appearing routinely on national and digital broadcasts.
“I’ve been busy, meeting people, meeting with coaches trying to figure it all out. We have a lot to do.”
Kennedy, part of FSU’s 2017 Hall of Fame class, last coached seven years ago at Pace University in New York. He has been reunited with longtime friend Jackie Pons, Jefferson County's principal and former Leon County Superintendent.
Kennedy plans to teach a media relations class and will manage facilities and athletic scheduling, in addition to coaching boys basketball.
Kennedy and wife Jeannie relocated to Tallahassee from Norwalk, Connecticut (48 miles northeast of New York City) earlier this month, moving into a home in northeast Tallahassee near Capital Circle.
The couple has always felt a connection to Tallahassee. Their son Joey played basketball at Maclay and the Kennedy's two daughters were born in Tallahassee. He's also looking to reconnect with old friends and cheering on the Seminoles.
“We’ve had 12 homes and lived in eight states, and this is the first time in my life – with the exception of our first few years of marriage – that we have everything under one roof,” Kennedy said.
“Every time we turn around (unpacking), we find something from Tallahassee when we lived here previously. It might be a picture of one of our kids and Jeannie will say, 'Remember this was taken in Tallahassee.’
"We have a lot of memories from here."
Kennedy is excited to make new ones, saying he stepped out of retirement because he embraced the opportunity to impact youth and coach.
He's also surprised by Tallahassee’s growth since he last lived in the state capitol, in Killearn Estates, 25 years ago.
“I don’t remember Tallahassee being this big,” Kennedy said and laughed. “We went out for dinner the other night and it was bumper-to-bumper traffic, people blowing their horns. I told Jeannie this is like New York. But, seriously, it feels great to be back.
"We are really excited."
Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former FSU coach Pat Kennedy is the new AD/boys hoops coach in Monticello
