Kenny Bizot has been named men's basketball coach at Texas-Tyler, announced Howard Patterson, assistant vice president for student affairs and director of athletics.
Bizot, a New Orleans native, takes over after spending last year as the head coach at Jackson Preparatory School in Jackson, Miss., widely recognized as one of the top private schools in the South.
“Coach Bizot is the right man at the right time, bringing a wealth of recruiting, coaching and leadership experience at the NCAA Division III level to UT-Tyler at a pivotal point in our brief athletics history,” said Patterson. “You know you're on to something when an entire department's coaching staff is so excited about Kenny being the new men's basketball coach.”
Continued Patterson, “NCAA Division III experience played a central theme in this hiring. Out of almost 100 applicants, there were about a dozen Division I assistant coaches from programs with various levels of success and many accomplished high school coaches, but in the end the screening committee hung their hats on Division III experience as the top criteria in making this selection."
Prior to his year at Jackson Prep, Bizot was the assistant coach at fellow ASC member Mississippi College. During his four-year stint at MC, Bizot served as the recruiting coordinator for the Choctaws. With Bizot's help, Mississippi College appeared in the ASC championship game four times and won two conference championships. MC made three NCAA tournament appearances and advanced to the “Sweet 16” round twice.
“My family and I are very excited about this opportunity and I am looking forward to getting started at UT-Tyler and building a program that the University and the community will be proud of,” said Bizot. “I would like thank Dr. Patterson, Dr. Lunsford and Dr. Mabry for giving me this opportunity.”
Bizot's recruiting classes at MC have posted a five-year record of 119-35, including this year's team which is playing in MC's third-straight appearance in the “Sweet 16” round this weekend in Virginia Beach, Va.
Before coming to Mississippi College, Bizot served as head coach at Hillcrest Christian School from 1998-2002 where he led the team to consecutive state championships and was named the Mississippi Private School Association Coach of the Year twice. In 1995-1997, Bizot was head coach at Porter's Chapel for two seasons and served as graduate assistant to coach Mike Jones at Mississippi College in 1994-95.
Bizot spent four seasons at Mississippi College as a player from 1990-1994. During his senior season, he started in 25 of the 27 games he played. Bizot averaged five points and 3.9 rebounds during that season. He also led the team with 55 steals and finished second on the team with 79 assists.
Bizot replaces Matt Wallis, who resigned following the conclusion of the 2006-07 season. Bizot will assume his duties immediately and work closely with assistant coach Larry Jones who has managed the recruiting process in the interim.