Texas A&M fires basketball coach

Texas A&M fired Billy Kennedy on Friday, the day after the men's basketball team ended its season with a loss at the SEC Tournament.

Kennedy, 55, had been in College Station for eight seasons, leading the Aggies to some of their highest points in program history.

Twice his teams surged to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. No other Aggie coach had made more than one appearance.

And A&M tied for the SEC championship in 2016, a first for the team in three decades.

Kennedy's program, though, was deemed too inconsistent. The Aggies won a program-record 28 games in 2016. But they made only two NCAA appearances and played once in the NIT. Kennedy had a 151-116 record.

“Billy’s tenure included some great memories and remarkable achievements,” A&M athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement. “He represented our program and Texas A&M University with distinction. Without question, Billy Kennedy is a first-class person. On behalf of Aggies everywhere, my thanks to Billy and his family for his service to Texas A&M. I wish him the very best.”

The Aggies beat Vanderbilt 69-52 Wednesday in their SEC Tournament opener but then lost to Mississippi State 80-54 Thursday to drop to 14-18 for the season.

“My family and I are grateful for the chance we’ve had to be Aggies," Kennedy said in a statement. "We have forever been impacted by the amazing Aggie family we have been allowed to embrace. The memories we have made are only possible because of the players, coaches, staff and administration that have been on this journey with us. I am especially grateful to (former athletic directors) Bill Byrne for making the first call, to Eric Hyman for staying the course, and to Scott Woodward for continuing to believe. I am grateful that God called me to Aggieland and blessed me with the opportunity to enjoy great moments in Aggie history while here. This is a special place and it has been a blessing to represent this university.”

Virginia Tech's Buzz Williams could be a top candidate for A&M.

The 46-year-old is a native Texan who has been an assistant coach for three programs in the state. He worked at Texas A&M from 2004 to 2006.

Williams led the Hokies to a program-record 23 wins this season. He was asked earlier this week about rumors connecting him to the A&M vacancy. He told reporters: “I've never commented on jobs. I don't think that's appropriate by our kids. I can't control what people say. I've got to make sure I'm doing my best with these guys."

Kennedy made $2.5 million this season, the same as what Williams earned at Virginia Tech.

Kennedy took over a program that had come to expect an NCAA appearance. The Aggies had made six in a row when Kennedy accepted the job to replace Mark Turgeon, who left in May 2011 to coach Maryland.

Fan interest had fallen this season. When the Aggies finished their home season with a loss to Mississippi State, fewer than 3,000 were in attendance at Reed Arena.