Keith Russell "Mister" Jennings (born November 2, 1968) is an American basketball coach, who formerly played professional in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and overseas in European leagues.[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 2, 1968 Culpeper, Virginia, U.S. |
| Listed height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Listed weight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Culpeper County (Culpeper County, Virginia) |
| College | East Tennessee State (1987–1991) |
| NBA draft | 1991: undrafted |
| Playing career | 1991–2004 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Number | 2 |
| Coaching career | 2004–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1991 | Jacksonville Hooters |
| 1991–1992 | Brandt Hagen |
| 1992–1995 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1995–1996 | Estudiantes |
| 1997–1999 | Le Mans |
| 1999 | Real Madrid |
| 1999–2000 | Fenerbahçe |
| 2000 | Saint Petersburg Lions |
| 2000–2002 | Strasbourg |
| 2002–2003 | SLUC Nancy |
| 2003–2004 | Strasbourg |
| As coach: | |
| 2004–2007 | Highland School |
| 2007–2008 | East Tennessee State (GA) |
| 2008–2009 | Science Hill HS (assistant) |
| 2009–2014 | Bluefield (assistant) |
| 2014–2017 | Lees–McRae (assistant) |
| 2017–present | Lees–McRae (women's) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
College career
editJennings, a 5'7" (1.70 m) tall point guard, attended East Tennessee State University, for four academic years (1987–91). Jennings won the 1991 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given to the outstanding collegiate senior six feet tall and under, and was a second-team consensus All-American. He also led the NCAA Division I that year in three-point field goals, shooting 59 percent.[2]
It was in college that Jennings was primarily called by the nickname "Mister", which was originally given to him by his father during his childhood.[3]
Professional playing career
editJennings was not selected in the 1991 NBA draft, and started his NBA career as a free agent. He spent three seasons in the NBA, with the Golden State Warriors (1992–95), playing in 164 games, and averaging 6.6 points and 3.7 assists in 18.0 minutes per game. Jennings's personal best in the NBA was a 23-point performance, in his next-to-last regular season game with the Warriors, on April 22, 1995. In that game, Jennings made 8 of 10 field goals, including 3 of 4 three-pointers, and was perfect in 4 free-throw attempts in 41 minutes.[4] He dished off 10 assists that game to cap off his best performance in the NBA. He was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 expansion draft, but did not play for them. He also played professionally in Europe. In 2003–04 he parlayed his experience on the court to help the basketball club in Strasbourg, France.
Coaching career
editFrom 2004 to 2007, Jennings was the head coach of the boys' varsity basketball team at the private Highland School in Warrenton, Virginia.[2] Jennings joined the staff at his alma mater, East Tennessee State, as a graduate assistant coach for the 2007–08 season while he completed his degree.[2] After a year as an assistant coach at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee, Jennings was assistant coach at Bluefield College in Bluefield, Virginia from 2009 to 2014.[5] In 2014, he became assistant coach at Lees–McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina.[6]
On July 7, 2017, Jennings was named head women's coach at Lees–McRae.[7]
On July 27, 2023, Jennings was named head coach at Culpeper County High School, his alma mater.[8][9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Keith Jennings Stats | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Mister returning to help coach, finish degree". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
- ^ "The Handle Podcast – Keith "Mister" Jennings: 11/30/18". lamarmatic.com. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ 04/22/1995 NBA Box Score at gs - basketballreference.com
- ^ "Bluefield Daily Telegraph: 'Mister' influences Ramblin' Rams". Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
- ^ "Keith 'Mister' Jennings Tabbed Men's Basketball Assistant Coach". Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ "Keith "Mister" Jennings named new Head Women's Basketball Coach at Lees-McRae". Lees–McRae College. July 7, 2017. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
- ^ STAR–EXPONENT, CULPEPER (July 28, 2023). "Former NBA player, Keith Jennings named head coach at CCHS". Culpeper Star-Exponent. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ STAR–EXPONENT, CULPEPER (August 11, 2023). "PREP BASKETBALL: Former ETSU standout Jennings to guide Culpeper County hoops". The Bristol Herald Courier. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
External links
edit- NBA stats @ basketballreference.com
- French League profile
- ETSU proclaims Keith "Mister" Jennings Day (November 27, 2004) @ etsubucs.com
- Rushin, Steve. Sports Illustrated (January 29, 1991) "Hey, Mister: Keith Jennings, the little big man they call Mister, has led East Tennessee State to the big time"