Ole Miss men’s basketball adds experienced Robert Kirby as assistant coach

This Ole Miss men’s basketball story on new assistant Robert Kirby was provided by Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss men’s basketball has added the experienced and highly-regarded assistant coach Robert Kirby to its staff for the 2022-23 season, head coach Kermit Davis announced Monday.

One of the most well-respected assistant coaches in the nation, Kirby comes to Oxford with 37 years of Division I coaching experience. His most recent stop was a five-year stint on Patrick Ewing’s staff at Georgetown from 2017-22.

In his long career, Kirby has helped lead his teams to 19 postseason berths (11 NCAA Tournaments, eight NITs).

He has also coached 18 professional players and is highly familiar with the mid-south and Mississippi in general. He coached at Mississippi State 16 total seasons across two different stints.

“Robert brings an unbelievable amount of energy and recruiting experience to our staff, and he has a great understanding of SEC basketball,” Davis said. “I think he is an outstanding fit for Ole Miss. We look forward to our entire staff getting started with summer workouts in early June.

“We have never been more excited about our blend of returning players to go along with our four freshmen and four transfers players coming in for the 2022-23 season.”

RELATED: Ole Miss basketball announces addition of Stacy Hollowell as Associate A.D.

“I am very excited about coming to Oxford and being a part of Coach Davis’ staff,” Kirby said. “Coach Davis is a very knowledgeable and innovative coach. I am honored to join his outstanding staff, and look forward to working with a talented group of returning players along with the 12th-ranked recruiting class that he has put together for the upcoming year.”

Kirby previously had coaching stints at LSU (2012-13, 2016-17), Memphis (2013-15), Georgetown, Mississippi State (1998-2010; 1989-93), Houston (1993-98), Southeastern Louisiana (1988-89) and UALR (1985-88).

A Memphis native, he has been recognized by Rivals.com as one of the nation’s top recruiters and HoopScoop as one of the country’s top assistant coaches. He is a recipient of the NABC Distinguished Years of Service Award.

At Georgetown from 2010-12, Kirby was part of a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both seasons, helping to recruit consecutive classes ranked in the top-15 nationally, including Otto Porter Jr., who was a First Team All-American and National Player of the Year candidate.

RELATED: Ole Miss men’s basketball officially adds Brock Morris as assistant coach

Kirby spent 12 years as an assistant at Mississippi State.

He helped guide the Bulldogs to an average of nearly 21 wins per year, including a school-record 27 victories during the 2001-02 campaign.

Kirby brought in several nationally-ranked recruiting classes to Mississippi State, was part of teams that had 10 postseason appearances, including six NCAA Tournaments, and he coached five All-Americans and 11 all-conference performers.

He’s a former two-year basketball letterwinner and 1983 graduate of Pan American University (now known as Texas-Rio Grande Valley) in Edinburg, Texas.

He also coached at Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in 1984-85 and his alma mater as a student assistant in 1982-83. 

Kirby Coaching Career – At a Glance

2017-22 – Georgetown – Assistant Coach (5 seasons)

2016-17 – LSU – Associate Head Coach (1 season)

2013-16 – Memphis – Assistant Coach (3 seasons)

2012-13 – LSU – Assistant Coach (1 season)

2010-12 – Georgetown – Assistant Coach (2 seasons)

1998-2010 – Mississippi State – Assistant Coach (12 seasons)

1993-98 – Houston – Assistant Coach (5 seasons)

1989-93 – Mississippi State – Assistant Coach (4 seasons)

1988-89 – Southeastern Louisiana – Assistant Coach (1 season)

1985-88 – Arkansas-Little Rock – Assistant Coach (3 seasons)

1984-85 – Arkansas College (now Lyon College) – Assistant Coach (1 season)

1982-83 – Texas-Pan American (now UT Rio Grande Valley) – Student Assistant (1 season)

Kirby Professional Players Coached (18)

Damon Jones – Houston – NBA: 1998-2009
Eric Dampier – Mississippi State – NBA: 1996-2012
Travis Outlaw – Mississippi State – NBA: 2003-14
Jonathan Bender – Mississippi State – NBA: 1999-2010
Monta Ellis – Mississippi State – NBA: 2005-17
Tang Hamilton – Mississippi State – NBA: 2001-02
Lawerence Roberts – Mississippi State – NBA: 2005-07
Derrick Zimmerman – Mississippi State – NBA: 2005-06
Jarvis Vanardo – Mississippi State – NBA: 2012-14
Mario Austin – Mississippi State – NBA: 2003-04
Tim Bowers – Mississippi State – International: 2006-15
Jordan Mickey – LSU – NBA: 2015-18
Jarell Martin – LSU – NBA: 2015-19
Jeremiah Martin – Memphis – NBA: 2019-21
Dedric Lawson – Memphis – NBA: 2019-20
Otto Porter Jr – Georgetown – NBA: 2013-Present
Mac McClung – Georgetown – NBA: 2021-Present
JaMorko Pickett – Georgetown – NBA: 2021-Present