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Kermit Davis, Ole Miss basketball announce hire of veteran Robert Kirby as assistant coach

OXFORD — Ole Miss basketball coach Kermit Davis announced the addition of veteran assistant coach Robert Kirby to his staff Monday.

Kirby comes to Ole Miss after spending five years at Georgetown. Across his 37-year career, the Memphis native has also worked at LSU (2012-13, 2016-17), Memphis (2013-16), Mississippi State (1989-93, 1998-2010) and Houston (1993-98) among other schools. He's coached 17 players who made it to the NBA and helped 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament.

"Robert brings an unbelievable amount of energy and recruiting experience to our staff, and he has a great understanding of SEC basketball,” Davis said in a statement. “I think he is an outstanding fit for Ole Miss. We look forward to our entire staff getting started with summer workouts in early June. We have never been more excited about our blend of returning players to go along with our four freshmen and four transfers players coming in for the 2022-23 season.”

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The Rebels return a number of important contributors from the 2021-22 season for next year. Point guard Daeshun Ruffin and forward Robert Allen return from season-ending injuries alongside guards Matthew Murrell, Tye Fagan and James White and forward Jaemyn Brakefield.

“I am very excited about coming to Oxford and being a part of Coach Davis’ staff,” Kirby said. “Coach Davis is a very knowledgeable and innovative coach. I am honored to join his outstanding staff, and look forward to working with a talented group of returning players along with the 12th-ranked recruiting class that he has put together for the upcoming year.”

Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss basketball announces hire of assistant Robert Kirby