Frank Kerns
Biographical details
BornMay 21, 1933
Cumberland, Maryland, U.S.
Died (aged 82)
Statesboro, Georgia, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Alabama
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1961–1964Clarke County HS
1965–1968Fairhope HS
1969–1970McGill Institute
1971–1979Spring Hill College
1979–1981Chattanooga (assistant)
1981–1994Georgia Southern
Head coaching record
Overall
  • 244–132 (NCAA)
  • 100–103 (NAIA)
Tournaments0–3 (NCAA)
0–2 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards

Franklin Phillip "Frank" Kerns (May 21, 1933 – August 3, 2015) was an American basketball coach. He coached Georgia Southern from 1981 to 1994.

A native of Cumberland, Maryland, Kerns served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He later earned a degree in physical education from the University of Alabama.[1] Kerns served as coach of Georgia Southern from 1982 to 1994, compiling a record of 244–132. A four-time Trans America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Kerns coached the Eagles to NCAA Tournaments in 1983, 1987, and 1992. The Eagles also reached the National Invitation Tournament in 1988 and 1989 under the direction of Kerns.[2] He later coached in China for a year and in Austria for six years. He then coached at Bulloch Academy for several years.[1] Kerns was color analyst for Georgia Southern Radio for eight years.[2]

Kerns died on August 3, 2015, at East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro, Georgia. He was 82 years old and had a brief illness. He was buried on August 6, 2015.[1]

Head coaching record

NAIA

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Spring Hill Badgers (Alabama Collegiate Conference) (1971–1973)
1971–72 Spring Hill 10–12
1972–73 Spring Hill 6–19
Spring Hill Badgers (Southern States Conference) (1973–1981)
1973–74 Spring Hill 14–11 8–4
1974–75 Spring Hill 20–7 12–2 1st
1975–76 Spring Hill 13–14 5–9
1976–77 Spring Hill 18–10 10–6
1977–78 Spring Hill 12–16 8–10
1978–79 Spring Hill 7–18 7–11
Spring Hill: 100–103 (.493) 50–42 (.543)
Total: 100–103 (.493)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NCAA

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Georgia Southern (Trans American Athletic Conference) (1982–1992)
1981–82 Georgia Southern 14–13 8–8 T–5th
1982–83 Georgia Southern 18–12 8–6 T–3rd NCAA Division I Preliminary Round
1983–84 Georgia Southern 16–12 8–6 3rd
1984–85 Georgia Southern 24–5 11–3 1st
1985–86 Georgia Southern 15–13 6–8 T–5th
1986–87 Georgia Southern 20–11 12–6 4th NCAA Division I First Round
1987–88 Georgia Southern 24–7 15–3 T–1st NIT First Round
1988–89 Georgia Southern 23–6 16–2 1st NIT First Round
1989–90 Georgia Southern 17–11 11–5 4th
1990–91 Georgia Southern 14–13 9–5 T–3th
1991–92 Georgia Southern 25–6 13–1 1st NCAA Division I First Round
Georgia Southern (Southern Conference) (1993–1995)
1992–93 Georgia Southern 19–9 12–6 T–2nd
1993–94 Georgia Southern 14–14 9–9 5th
1994–95 Georgia Southern 1–0 [a] 0–0
Georgia Southern: 244–132 (.649) 138–68 (.670)
Total: 244–132 (.649)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

  1. ^ Kerns resigned following allegations of a recruiting violation.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Coach Franklin Phillip Kerns Obituary". Statesboro Herald. August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Former Georgia Southern men's basketball coach Frank Kerns dies at age 82". Savannah Morning News. August 5, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
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