On March 25th, 2016, former UAB Coach Jarod Hasse left UAB to coach at Stanford. At the time UAB seemed like it was positioning itself to run the C-USA and start becoming one of the top Mid-Major programs again. UAB only had one player graduating and felt like it was the front runner again to win the C-USA. To keep continuity UAB promoted Assistant Robert Ehsan to be the next Head Coach in program history. In his four years as head coach UAB never won the C-USA regular season or tournament. UAB never finished higher than 5th in the regular season during his four-year stint as Head Coach.

In June 2019 when UConn announced they would be leaving the AAC to join the Big East to get their basketball programs in a better conference. This leaves the AAC with 11 teams starting in 2020 and talk is they want to expand back to 12 teams. This would be a perfect opportunity for UAB to join a better conference and elevate the program. The Blazers aren't the only ones competing for that AAC spot as other schools would love a shot at being in the conference.

UAB Football is making its case, Since the program restarted in 2017, The Blazers have made a bowl game in all 3 seasons (going 1-2) including going back to back C-USA title games winning the 2018 edition. UAB is also getting better facilities for football. Opening a new practice facility in 2017 and finally leaving Legion Field and moving to Protective Stadium in 2021, the football program is making its case for the AAC. This puts more pressure on the UAB basketball program to hold up their weight and perform. When the program did not in 2019-20 UAB decided to fire coach Robert Eshan after a 19-13 season finishing 7th in C-USA. When UAB started its coaching search it was obvious the program needed a splash hire. Someone with HC experience to get the team back on track.

Andy Kennedy was linked as the favorite for the job as soon as the reports came out about Eshan and it makes sense as to why. The former UAB player and assistant coach under Gene Bartow has spent the past two seasons as an analyst for the ESPN and the SEC Network. Before that Kennedy spent 12 seasons as the Head Coach at Ole Miss. Winning the SEC Tournament in 2013, Winning SEC Coach of the year twice and twice making the NCAA Tournament. He leads Ole Miss in all-time wins and is 18th in SEC wins. Kennedy won 20 games 9 times out of 12 at Ole Miss where before he arrived had seven 20 win seasons all time.

Now he brings all that experience and name recognition to UAB. At a time where UAB may be entering its most critical era since the programs start, Andy Kennedy will be there to try to make the UAB Blazers a power in the College Basketball world once again.