Al Skinner takes over as coach at Kennesaw State

Veteran Al Skinner has been named the new head coach at Kennesaw State, the school announced Sunday.

Skinner, who took Boston College to the NCAA tournament seven times in 13 seasons, was the 2001 Division I national coach of the year. He is 385-291 (.570) in 22 seasons with the Eagles and Rhode Island, including 10 20-plus win seasons.

The 62-year-old Skinner, who most recently served as associate head coach at Division I Bryant University in Rhode Island, will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday.

"My lifelong passion has been basketball. I am passionate about coaching young men to be successful team members on winning basketball teams," Skinner said in a statement. "With the assistance of the alumni, student body, faculty, President Dan Papp, Director of Athletics Vaughn Williams and Owl fans, we will work tirelessly to build a basketball program Kennesaw State will be proud of. I appreciate the opportunity I have been given to coach the KSU basketball team."

Skinner replaces Jimmy Lallathin, who took over in the middle of the 2013-14 season and was 10-22 last year. Lallathin was suspended in November for one game after the school self-reported NCAA violations.