Pat Kennedy took over as head coach of the Men's Basketball program prior to the 1986 season when the Seminoles were members of the Metro Conference. Not only did he lead FSU to the top of the Metro,
but he led the program through the transition into the ACC, and returned Seminole basketball national prominence. Kennedy won both a Metro regular season title and the tournament championship
(1991) before taking on the ACC schedule beginning with the 1991-92 season. He was the NABC District Coach of the Year at Iona in 1984 and the MAAC Coach of the Year in 1985. He was named ACC Coach
of the Year in 1992.
Kennedy led the Seminole to five NCAA Tournament berths and two NIT appearances in his 11 years at FSU. The Seminoles advanced to the Elite Eight of the 1993 NCAA Tournament,
which was the second-best season in FSU history.
Florida State went 202-131 under Kennedy, posting a .607 winning percentage. In his first season coaching in the ACC, Kennedy set a then-record for
road wins (6) and total ACC wins (11) by a first-year coach.
Kennedy's teams featured some of the best players in FSU history. His 1992-93 team included four NBA first round draft picks (Charlie
Ward, Bob Sura, Sam Cassell and Doug Edwards). Seven of Kennedy's 11 FSU teams recorded 19 or more wins and he reached the 20-win plateau five times.
