DENVER – MSU Denver Director of Athletics Todd Thurman announced today the hiring of Lynn Kennedy as the new head coach of the Roadrunners women's basketball program.

Kennedy is a veteran leader with nearly three decades of coaching experience, as he brings an extraordinary track record of success, leadership, and player development at the NCAA Division I, Division II, and NAIA levels.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lynn Kennedy to the Roadrunner family," said Thurman. "His proven success at multiple levels, his dedication to student-athlete development, and his commitment to winning the right way make him the ideal leader for our women's basketball program."

Kennedy joins MSU Denver after a transformative tenure at McNeese State University, where he revitalized the Cowgirls program and led them to back-to-back Southland Conference tournament appearances for the first time since 2017. Under his leadership, the team saw its most wins in a four-year span in over a decade and set attendance records while significantly improving academic performance and community engagement.

"I am excited and honored to be named the next head women's basketball coach at MSU Denver," Kennedy Stated. "I would like to thank President Dr. Davidson, Mr. Thurman, Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Performance Allison Salter, and former women's head basketball coach Tanya Haave and the search committee that took the time to research and interview candidates. I also want to thank my wife Amy, sons Graycen and Parker for their support throughout the years." 

Prior to McNeese, Kennedy made his mark at Portland State University, guiding the Vikings to a Big Sky Conference tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth—the program's second ever. His teams were known for their defensive tenacity and offensive efficiency, setting multiple school and conference records. At Southern Oregon University, he led the Raiders to three NAIA national tournament appearances, compiled 208 wins over 10 seasons, and was named Cascade Conference Coach of the Year.

Kennedy is no stranger to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, as his head coaching journey started with a pivotal stint at New Mexico Highlands University, where he engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in program history. Taking over a team that had won just four games the previous year, Kennedy led the Cowgirls to a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) West Division title in 2004–05. That season, NMHU was ranked No. 9 nationally among the NCAA Division II Most Improved Teams and advanced to the RMAC Tournament semifinals, coming within one game of a national tournament appearance.

With more than 600 career games coached and a deep commitment to academic excellence, Kennedy has consistently built competitive programs founded on integrity, hard work, and a dedication to student-athlete success. His recruiting acumen and proven ability to elevate programs at every level make him a perfect fit for MSU Denver's vision of athletic and academic achievement.

Kennedy holds a Master of Physical Education from Pacific Lutheran University and an MBA from New Mexico Highlands University. Off the court, he is a strong advocate for community involvement, academic success, and leadership development, and has served as a professor and mentor at each of his previous institutions.

"The tradition of Roadrunner Basketball is among the best in the nation, Kennedy said. "We will continue that path and create new memories. Our program will be centered around the student athlete experience. We will excel in our studies, on the court, and in the community.  Our team will embrace the CADRE values and represent MSU Denver at the highest level. I can't wait to get started and meet all the Roadrunner fans."

As Kennedy takes the helm, Roadrunners fans can look forward to a new era of women's basketball—one built on experience, excellence, and an unrelenting drive to compete at the highest level.