Adako And Kennedy Join Lehigh Men's Basketball Staff
9/12/2024 11:24:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh men's basketball head coach Dr. Brett Reed has announced the addition of two new coaches to his staff. Manny Adako has been hired as an associate coach while Brian Kennedy joins the staff as an assistant.
"I'm really pleased with the additions to our coaching staff," said Reed. "Manny and Brian bring a wealth of experiences and expertise. Both should be wonderful additions to our Lehigh basketball family."
Adako comes to Bethlehem by way of Northeastern University, his alma mater. He was a standout player for the Huskies from 2006-2010, going on to have a successful seven-year professional career overseas that brought him to the Netherlands, Egypt and Qatar. Following his playing career, Adako joined his alma mater as a graduate assistant, being elevated to assistant in 2018 after his first season.
During his time on the Huskies' staff, Adako was a part of three regular season championship teams, three conference championship finals appearances and one NCAA tournament bid. He helped develop six all-conference players and nine that went on to sign professional contracts while at Northeastern.
He received a bachelor's degree in human services from Northeastern in 2010 while also graduating with a master's degree in informatics in 2017.
"I couldn't be more excited to join Lehigh Basketball," said Adako. "Coach Reed and his staff have done an unbelievable job building this Lehigh program and have created a lot of momentum going into this season. I could feel the energy the moment I got on campus. I'm extremely appreciative of Coach Reed for giving me the opportunity. I can't wait to get to work with players and staff."
"Through the process of learning more about Manny, I became very impressed by his character and his commitment to relationships," said Reed. "I think he can be a wonderful mentor to our student-athletes as well as somebody who is skillful in player development and tactical strategic knowledge. His experiences as a collegiate athlete, professional athlete and multiple years coaching at the Division I level will provide him a wonderful platform to invest into our student-athletes and basketball program."
Kennedy brings over 18 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level. He began his coaching career at DePaul University in 1997 as an assistant, where he helped turn a 3-23 program into a 22-win team with an NCAA tournament bid in his second season. He was instrumental in recruiting and developing over five NBA players, including Quentin Richardson. After leaving the industry in 2003 to work as a sales trader, Kennedy returned to coaching at NJIT in 2011. After spending five seasons as an assistant, Kennedy was elevated to head coach and assistant athletic director in 2016, a position he would hold until 2023.
He is also the co-founder and owner of the Hoop Group, which is a series of summer basketball camps that grew into one of the largest grassroots basketball organizations in the country. Alumni include Bob and Dan Hurley, Geno Auriema, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
Kennedy played collegiately at both Princeton and Monmouth, earning a degree in business administration from Monmouth in 1990.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Reed's staff at Lehigh," said Kennedy. "I have always had tremendous respect for the way he runs his program and the way his teams play. I look forward to helping serve and develop our student-athletes to reach their best."
"I'm incredibly impressed with what Brian Kennedy can bring to our basketball program," said Reed. "Having someone who has incredible basketball contacts through his lifelong experiences as well as credible and tangible experiences as a head coach at the Division I level is a tremendous asset to our program, student-athletes and myself. I appreciate the fact that he will be able to have a high-level of professional perspective that comes with the leadership roles he has fulfilled. He has been extremely valuable in building a Division I basketball program and we're pleased that he can bring those skills to us at Lehigh."
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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"I'm really pleased with the additions to our coaching staff," said Reed. "Manny and Brian bring a wealth of experiences and expertise. Both should be wonderful additions to our Lehigh basketball family."
Adako comes to Bethlehem by way of Northeastern University, his alma mater. He was a standout player for the Huskies from 2006-2010, going on to have a successful seven-year professional career overseas that brought him to the Netherlands, Egypt and Qatar. Following his playing career, Adako joined his alma mater as a graduate assistant, being elevated to assistant in 2018 after his first season.
During his time on the Huskies' staff, Adako was a part of three regular season championship teams, three conference championship finals appearances and one NCAA tournament bid. He helped develop six all-conference players and nine that went on to sign professional contracts while at Northeastern.
He received a bachelor's degree in human services from Northeastern in 2010 while also graduating with a master's degree in informatics in 2017.
"I couldn't be more excited to join Lehigh Basketball," said Adako. "Coach Reed and his staff have done an unbelievable job building this Lehigh program and have created a lot of momentum going into this season. I could feel the energy the moment I got on campus. I'm extremely appreciative of Coach Reed for giving me the opportunity. I can't wait to get to work with players and staff."
"Through the process of learning more about Manny, I became very impressed by his character and his commitment to relationships," said Reed. "I think he can be a wonderful mentor to our student-athletes as well as somebody who is skillful in player development and tactical strategic knowledge. His experiences as a collegiate athlete, professional athlete and multiple years coaching at the Division I level will provide him a wonderful platform to invest into our student-athletes and basketball program."
Kennedy brings over 18 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level. He began his coaching career at DePaul University in 1997 as an assistant, where he helped turn a 3-23 program into a 22-win team with an NCAA tournament bid in his second season. He was instrumental in recruiting and developing over five NBA players, including Quentin Richardson. After leaving the industry in 2003 to work as a sales trader, Kennedy returned to coaching at NJIT in 2011. After spending five seasons as an assistant, Kennedy was elevated to head coach and assistant athletic director in 2016, a position he would hold until 2023.
He is also the co-founder and owner of the Hoop Group, which is a series of summer basketball camps that grew into one of the largest grassroots basketball organizations in the country. Alumni include Bob and Dan Hurley, Geno Auriema, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
Kennedy played collegiately at both Princeton and Monmouth, earning a degree in business administration from Monmouth in 1990.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Reed's staff at Lehigh," said Kennedy. "I have always had tremendous respect for the way he runs his program and the way his teams play. I look forward to helping serve and develop our student-athletes to reach their best."
"I'm incredibly impressed with what Brian Kennedy can bring to our basketball program," said Reed. "Having someone who has incredible basketball contacts through his lifelong experiences as well as credible and tangible experiences as a head coach at the Division I level is a tremendous asset to our program, student-athletes and myself. I appreciate the fact that he will be able to have a high-level of professional perspective that comes with the leadership roles he has fulfilled. He has been extremely valuable in building a Division I basketball program and we're pleased that he can bring those skills to us at Lehigh."
Like Lehigh men's basketball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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