Al Skinner has finally found a new home. After 13 seasons with Boston College, and three with Bryant, Skinner has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Kennesaw State Owls of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Skinner, started his career as an assistant coach at Marist (1982-84) and head coach of the University of Rhode Island, before he took over as the head coach of the Boston College Eagles, replacing Jim O'Brien who left to coach Ohio State. After three seasons of struggling to win in the Big East, Skinner started to really hit his stride in 2000-01 when Boston College won the Big East title and went into the NCAA's a #3 seed.
BC continued to see success under Skinner as they started the 2004 season 20-0, and vaulted up to #4 in the country. He, along with his assistants, did a great job of bringing in talent to the Heights including Craig Smith, Jared Dudley, Tyrese Rice, and Reggie Jackson. Unfortunately in 2010, amidst declining results, Skinner was let go by Gene Defilippo, in what became and still is, a very controversial move. BC's program still is trying to dig itself out of the hole caused by the domino effect of that firing.
After leaving Chestnut Hill, Skinner sat out three years before accepting an assistant job with the Bryant Bulldogs under his protege Tim O'Shea. His name has popped up for many other head coaching jobs during that time including Seton Hall, Northwestern and Rutgers. According to the AJC, Skinner will be the third head coach of the Owls in three years. In the past four seasons Kennesaw State finished 3-28, 3-27, 6-25 and most recently 10-22. Coach Skinner certainly will have his hands full with this program, one that turned D1 only in 2006. Best of luck in Georgia Coach Skinner.