Ernie Kent
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| Ernie Kent | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Title | Head coach | |
| College | Oregon | |
| Sport | Basketball | |
| Team record | 211-134 (at Oregon) | |
| Born | January 22, 1955 | |
| Place of birth |  Rockford, Illinois |
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| Career highlights | ||
| Overall | 301-214 | |
| Championships | ||
| Pac-10 Tournament Championship (2003, 2007) Pac-10 Regular Season Championship (2002) WCC Tournament Championship (1997) WCC Regular Season Championship (1997) |
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| Awards | ||
| Pac-10 Coach of the Year (2002) | ||
| Playing career | ||
| 1973–1977 | Oregon | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1980–1987 1987–1989 1989–1991 1991–1997 1997–present |
Al-Khaleej (Saudi Arabia) Colorado State (asst.) Stanford (asst.) St. Mary's (CA) Oregon |
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Ernie Kent (born January 22, 1955 in Rockford, Illinois) is the current head men's basketball coach at the University of Oregon. He has been the Ducks' coach since he replaced Jerry Green after Green left for University of Tennessee after the 1996-97 season. Prior to becoming head coach at Oregon, Kent was an assistant at Stanford University and also coached at St. Mary's as well as abroad in Saudi Arabia.
As a player, Kent played for the Ducks during the 1970s under head coach Dick Harter. He was considered to be one of the leading Kamikaze Kids -- Duck players who were known for constant hustle and going all-out in their attempts to win ball games.
Kent is credited with raising the standards of basketball at Oregon. Prior to the Kent era, Oregon had only reached the NCAA tournament once in several decades and was more renowned for the wild student section of McArthur Court than for the team itself. Under Ernie Kent, the Ducks have reached the NCAA tournament five times, in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, and again in 2008. The 2002 and 2007 teams won three tournament games before losing in the Elite Eight. The other three tournament appearances resulted in first round losses at the hands of Seton Hall University, the University of Utah, and Mississippi State University. He also led the Ducks to NIT appearances in 1999 and 2004.
Recruiting is considered to be Kent's greatest skill as head coach. During his tenure three NBA lottery picks have come through the University of Oregon: Fred Jones, Luke Ridnour and Luke Jackson. All three were recruited by Ernie Kent. In addition to players currently in the NBA, Kent recently recruited a class that ranked in the top 10 nationally which featured highly regarded recruits such as Maarty Leunen, Bryce Taylor, Chamberlain Oguchi and Malik Hairston.
Due to a decline in the success of his teams (including a disappointing stretch of seasons from 2004-2006), the perceived lack of development of highly-regarded recruits as well as rumors of personal issues, many people questioned whether Kent would remain at Oregon after the 2005-2006 season. But after the season, the school's athletic director at the time, Bill Moos, issued a statement affirming his support for Kent.
The team regained its composure and kicked off 2007 with a roar. Led by All-American and All-Pac 10 guard Aaron Brooks (basketball), they started the season 18-1, the Duck's best start since 1928. One highlight of the season was a huge upset of the #1 ranked UCLA Bruins on Jan. 6 at McArthur Court. The Ducks finished the regular season with a 23-7 record and defeated Arizona, California, and USC to win the 2007 Pac-10 Tournament.The Duck's three wins in the tournament were by an average of more than 20 points a game, including a huge 24 point win over the USC Trojans in the final. In March 2007, the Ducks entered into the NCAA tournament as #3 seed. The Ducks squeezed by the hot-shooting #14 seed Miami of Ohio 58-56 in the opening round of the tournament.[citation needed] Oregon continued their run into the 2007 Sweet Sixteen by defeating Winthrop, 75-61. The Ducks defeated #7 seed UNLV to secure a spot in the Elite Eight against the defending national champion Florida Gators, where they were defeated by the Gators, 85-77. The Ducks finished the season with a record of 29-8, one of the best in school history.
Oregon under Ernie Kent has been known for playing an up-tempo pace and four guard lineups.
Kent is also known as a great motivational speaker. After losing in the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA tournament, Kent delivered a lifting, memorable speech about the value of bouncing back after defeat.
Kent's Ducks made a solid run in the 2007 NCAA tournament. However, they came up just short of the final four by losing to the defending national champion Florida Gators 85-77 in the regional finals.
Coach Kent and the Ducks return to the 2008 NCAA tournament as a 9 seed, despite finishing the regular season with an 18-13 record. They lost to Mississippi State in the 1st round 76-69.
[edit] Head coaching record
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's College (West Coast Conference) (1991 — 1997) | |||||||||
| 1991-1992 | St. Mary's | 13-17 | |||||||
| 1992-93 | St. Mary's | 11-16 | |||||||
| 1993-94 | St. Mary's | 13-14 | |||||||
| 1994-95 | St. Mary's | 18-10 | |||||||
| 1995-96 | St. Mary's | 12-15 | |||||||
| 1996-97 | St. Mary's | 23-8 | NCAA 1st Round | ||||||
| St. Mary's: | 90-80 | ||||||||
| University of Oregon (Pac 10 Conference) (1998 — present) | |||||||||
| 1997-98 | Oregon | 13-14 | 8-10 | T-5th | |||||
| 1998-99 | Oregon | 19-13 | 8-10 | T-5th | NIT Semifinals | ||||
| 1999-00 | Oregon | 22-8 | 13-5 | 3rd | NCAA 1st Round | ||||
| 2000-01 | Oregon | 14-14 | 5-13 | T-6th | |||||
| 2001-02 | Oregon | 26-9 | 14-4 | 1st | NCAA Elite 8 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Oregon | 23-10 | 10-8 | 5th | NCAA 1st Round | ||||
| 2003-04 | Oregon | 18-13 | 9-9 | T-4th | NIT Semifinals | ||||
| 2004-05 | Oregon | 14-13 | 6-12 | T-8th | |||||
| 2005-06 | Oregon | 15-18 | 7-11 | T-7th | |||||
| 2006-07 | Oregon | 29-8 | 11-7 | T-3rd | NCAA Elite 8 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Oregon | 18-14 | 9-9 | T-5th | NCAA 1st Round | ||||
| Oregon: | 211-134 | 100-98 | |||||||
| Total: | 301-214 | ||||||||
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National Champion Conference Champion Conference Tournament Champion |
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