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Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Director of Basketball Operations
- Email:
- kahilfennell@GoCards.com
- Phone:
- 852-0183
Kahil Fennell is in his fourth year on UofL head coach Chris Mack’s staff and his first as an assistant coach after serving as the Cardinals’ Director of Basketball Operations for three seasons.
Last year in his third season with the Cardinals, UofL navigated one of the least experienced teams in the nation through pandemic protocols and a shortened season to achieve a 13-7 record and 8-5 ACC mark, the 15th straight season UofL has won eight or more conference games. The Cardinals earned a mid-season Top 25 ranking with only a single upperclassmen playing more than 65 minutes.
UofL tied for second in the ACC in 2019-20 while posting a 24-7 overall record in the COVID-19 shortened season. It marked Louisville’s 18th consecutive 20-win season, a feat accomplished by only five teams. In his first year on the UofL staff in 2018-19, the Cardinals posted a 20-14 record and while advancing to the NCAA Tournament against the nation’s fourth-toughest schedule. UofL beat four AP Top 25 teams and finished in a tie for sixth in the ACC when the Cardinals had been picked11th in the preseason with just one returning starter.
“Kahil has been a tremendous asset to our program for the first three years of our tenure in his previous role as the Director of Basketball Operations,” said Mack. “He has proven himself to be an extremely hard worker and well-connected with our student-athletes. Having him as a coach on the floor and in the recruiting position will do nothing but add to our program in the years to come.”
While on the staff at Portland State, the Vikings produced a 20-14 record last season, their most wins in 10 years and their third-most wins in 22 years in the Big Sky Conference. Portland State’s 10 road wins in head coach Barret Peery’s first season were the most in school history and the Vikings earned a berth in the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament. Portland State led the nation in turnover margin (+5.4) and ranked second in steals (9.8 per game) and third in scoring (85.2 points per game).
Prior to his year at Portland State, Fennell (pronounced kuh-HILL fe-NELL) spent two seasons coaching at Texas-Permian Basin. He was assistant coach in 2015-16 at the Division II program before his elevation to associate head coach of the Falcons in 2016-17. The Falcons were conference regular season and tournament champions in 2016-17, setting a school record with 26 victories. UTPB led the nation in rebounding and ranked 12th in scoring that season.
Fennell began his coaching career as a junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Alameda (Ca.) High School in 2014-15.
Fennell attended Thousand Oaks (Calif.) High School where he was an all-league basketball player and team captain. Fennell played one season of junior college basketball at Penn State New Kensington, where he earned Academic All-State honors. He moved from there to play three years at the University of the Redlands, where he was team captain.
Fennell earned a degree in history from Redlands in 2004. He worked in the medical device industry for 10 years before transitioning into coaching. Fennell and his wife Sarah have two sons, Ezra (8) and Koa (6).
