Director of athletics Rusty Hollingsworth has announced that after 19 years at Campbellsville University, head men’s basketball coach Keith Adkins has resigned.
“It is difficult to put into words how grateful and thankful I am to Campbellsville University for the opportunity to work here over the last 19 years,” said Adkins. “I especially want to say ‘thank you’ to Dr. Michael Carter and Rusty Hollingsworth. Campbellsville University is blessed to have such incredible leaders and I have been blessed to be a part of what they make possible.”
“Rusty has been the athletic director here for fifteen of the sixteen years I have been the head coach. Once again, I have been blessed to be able to work for someone that has become one of the best friends I have ever known. Campbellsville will always be special to me. I can only hope that I have impacted Campbellsville University and the Campbellsville community the way it has impacted me.”
Adkins, who has been a part of the Campbellsville University men’s basketball program for the past 19 years, has been the head coach for the previous 16. During his tenure, the Tigers have gone 322-204, won two Mid-South Conference Tournament championships, two MSC regular season titles and reached the NAIA Fab Four twice – the last coming this past year.
Adkins was a two-time MSC Coach of the Year (2006 and 2015) and had 41 All-MSC selections in his 16 years. Additionally, the Tigers had 28 student-athletes earn Academic All-MSC and three earned MSC Champions of Character honors.
“I wish Keith well in his new endeavor,” said Hollingsworth. “He has served Campbellsville University well over the last 19 years and has experienced great success as our head basketball coach. I consider Keith a friend and he will be missed.”
The men’s basketball program will now be in search of its seventh coach in history. Sixty-two years ago, George Sadler helped start the program in 1964 before handing the reigns to the late Lou Cunningham in 1966. After taking a step back from the program in 1972, Cunningham gave way to the late Ron Coleman for six years (1972-77) and John Rohrer for two (1977-78), before returning for the next 20 (1978-1997). Travis Ford led the Tigers from 1997-2000 and brought Adkins to Campbellsville as an assistant for those three seasons before Adkins took over the program to start the 2000-2001 season.
“We will assemble a committee of interested parties as we move through the process of hiring the next head coach of Tiger basketball. That process will begin immediately,” said Hollingsworth.
Adkins was the fourth-longest tenured coach in Campbellsville history behind NAIA Hall of Famer Donna Wise (32 years), Lou Cunningham (26) and current head baseball coach Beauford Sanders (26).
“We appreciate all Coach Adkins has done and wish him and his family the very best in the future,” said president Dr. Michael V. Carter.
Adkins is a native of Paintsville, Ky., where he played in three state tournaments as a back court player. In 1987 he helped lead his Paintsville team to a final four appearance. In 1988 Adkins was a member of the Kentucky All-Star team and a first-team All State selection. He holds the Paintsville school record for most points in a half, scoring 30 in one half against Pikeville High School in January 1988.
He was named Kentucky Male Athlete-of-the-Year in 1988 for his performances in both basketball and baseball at Paintsville High School.
Adkins played his first two seasons of college basketball at the University of Notre Dame, including a second round berth in the 1989 NCAA Tournament. After two seasons in South Bend, Adkins transferred to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he was a two-year starter averaging 11 points per game as a senior. Adkins ranked second in the nation in free throw percentage as a junior and still holds numerous Seahawk team records.
Adkins graduated from UNC-Wilmington (1994) with a B.A. in physical education. He and his wife, Vanessa, have four children: Ashley, Bradley, Sarah and Luke.
