The UTRGV Intercollegiate Athletics Department formally introduced Kahil Fennell as the new men’s basketball head coach Wednesday during a news conference at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. Fennell was previously an assistant coach for the Brigham Young University men’s basketball program. Yamilet Galvez/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics formally introduced Kahil Fennell as the new men’s basketball head coach during a news conference Wednesday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus.
The change in leadership comes approximately three weeks after the announcement of former head coach Matt Figger’s departure from UTRGV.
Fennell started his collegiate coaching career in 2016 at the University of Texas Permian Basin as an assistant coach. His most recent stint was at Brigham Young University as an assistant coach from 2022 to 2024.
Chasse Conque, vice president and director of Athletics, said there was a lot of interest shown for the position.
Conque said the investments being made toward athletics, combined with the move to the Southland Conference, made UTRGV an attractive opportunity.
He also mentioned what UTRGV was looking for in a coach.
“Love of young people, passion for community, part of a winning and successful program … someone that had drive and had a passion for the game of basketball,” Conque said. “… Coach Fennell checked all these boxes and many, many more.”
He said Fennell has a good track record of recruiting from his previous stints.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey said he is impressed by Fennell.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be able to watch what [Fennell] does,” Bailey said. “… It’s a great day for us, a really fine day. … We’re going to do some great things together.”
Guy Bailey (from left), UTRGV president, Kahil Fennell, men’s basketball head coach, and Chasse Conque, vice president and director of Athletics, pose for a picture during a news conference Wednesday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. SCREENSHOT TAKEN BY YAMILET GALVEZ
Fennell thanked everyone for their support and said he is grateful for the opportunity.
“Being a head coach anywhere would be just a tremendous opportunity I would be really thankful for, but to be a head coach and my first job being here and to start my career this way at the head coaching level, it’s hard to put into words,” he said. “… This is a really good spot. I’m really, really lucky. That’s not lost on me at all, and we’re just thrilled to be a part of it.”
Fennell said he will navigate the program with honesty and clarity.
“Whether it’s talking to the current roster, whether it’s talking to recruits, they’re always going to know exactly where I stand,” he said. “They’re always going to know exactly what the expectations are.”
Fennell said he wants the team to play fast and with confidence.
“I actually do want to play fast,” he said. “I will say that we’re going to play with great pace, we’re going to be really aggressive in transition. … I think empowering them to play with confidence in the open floor really establishes that mindset, both on offense and defense.”
The head coach said the next step is building a staff and roster.
“I’d like to have that team,” Fennell said. “That true team, players, staff, everybody in between put in place so we can really attack this thing collectively.”
Athletics also announced the 2024-2025 basketball season tickets are available for sale online, with season tickets starting at $150.
Over 100 people attended Wednesday’s news conference, including staff, media and community members. The men’s basketball 2024-2025 season tickets were also announced and are available for purchase at GoUTRGV.com/Tickets. Yamilet Galvez/THE RIDER
