Latest news with #LennieAcuff
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lipscomb's Lennie Acuff is heading home to Alabama to take job at Samford
Lipscomb's Lennie Acuff is heading home to Alabama to take job at Samford Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff yells instructions against Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 21, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Lipscomb head coach Lennie Acuff looks on during the second half against Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf) Lipscomb head coach Lennie Acuff looks on during the second half against Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf) Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff yells instructions against Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 21, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Lipscomb head coach Lennie Acuff looks on during the second half against Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Lennie Acuff, who coached Lipscomb to three straight 20-win seasons and an appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, has been named successor to Bucky McMillan at Samford, athletic director Martin Newton announced Wednesday. Acuff had winning records in five of his six seasons at Lipcomb, with this past season's team sweeping the Atlantic Sun regular-season and tournament championships before losing to Iowa State in March Madness and finishing 25-10. Advertisement The 60-year-old Acuff is a native of Huntsville, about 90 minutes northeast of Birmingham, and was head coach at Division II Alabama-Huntsville from 1997-2019. Lipscomb athletic director Philip Hutcheson said Acuff couldn't pass up the chance to return to his home state, where his adult children and extended family live. 'While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we understand the attraction of being close to one's family and we wish him continued success in this new opportunity,' Hutcheson said. McMillan left Samford on Saturday to take over at Texas A&M. The Bulldogs were 22-11 this past season with a loss to George Mason in the NIT. They were 99-52 in five seasons under McMillan and drew national notice in the 2024 NCAA Tournament when they narrowly lost to Kansas in the first round. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Samford to hire Lennie Acuff as next basketball head coach
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Samford basketball announced that Lennie Acuff will be its next head coach Wednesday. Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate to enter transfer portal Acuff was the head coach of Lipscomb and helped lead the Bisons to the NCAA Tournament this season. During his tenure at Lipscomb, he compiled a record of 110-82. He's won eight Gulf South Coach of the Year Awards and an ASUN Coach of the Year. Acuff began his coaching career at Belhaven, he's also coached at Berry and Alabama-Huntsville. The hire comes following the departure of Bucky McMillan who took the head coaching gig at Texas A&M. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lipscomb basketball coach Lennie Acuff resigns, replaces Bucky McMillan at Samford
After leading Lipscomb basketball to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, coach Lennie Acuff resigned Wednesday and was named Samford's coach. Acuff replaced Bucky McMillan, who resigned after the season and was named Texas A&M's coach. Advertisement Acuff, 60, had been Bisons coach since 2019. Lipscomb went 25-10 this past season and won the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and tournament championships. After earning the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament Lipscomb lost to Iowa State 82-55 in the first round. Acuff, who is from Huntsville, Alabama, posted a 110-71 record at Lipscomb. His career record, including 22 years at Alabama-Huntsville and three years at Berry College is 643-395. 'Lennie has led our program with integrity and a deep commitment to our student-athletes, and we are extremely grateful for the impact he has made on the Bison basketball program during his time at Lipscomb," Lipscomb athletic director Philip Hutcheson said in a release. "This was a tremendous opportunity for coach Acuff to return to Alabama, where he has spent most of his life, and to be close to family − particularly his two adult children who live in Birmingham, to his parents and to his in-laws − while being able to continue coaching at the Division I level. While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we understand the attraction of being close to one's family and we wish him continued success in this new opportunity.' Advertisement In addition to leading the Bisons to a return trip to the NCAA tournament Acuff guided the team to its fourth ASUN regular season championship and to its third consecutive 20-plus win season − marking only the second time in Division-I era program history this has been accomplished. Hutcheson said Lipscomb will begin an immediate national search for its next men's basketball head coach. In five seasons at Samford McMillan led the Bulldogs to a 99-52 record including back-to-back NCAA tournament berths in 2023 and 2024. Samford was 22-11 this past season and played in the National Invitation Tournament. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Lipscomb basketball's Lennie Acuff resigns to become Samford's coach
