Rust College Announces Kenny Dawkins as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College is pleased to announce the appointment of Kenny Montrell Dawkins as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, welcoming the Holly Springs native back home to help develop the next generation of Bearcat student-athletes.

Dawkins brings an extensive basketball background to Rust College as a former collegiate and professional player, coach, trainer, and player-development specialist. His return to Holly Springs represents a homecoming for a local standout whose basketball career has taken him from championship success in Mississippi to collegiate honors and professional competition in the United States and abroad.

A graduate of Holly Springs High School, Dawkins helped lead the Hawks to back-to-back Mississippi Class 3A state championships in 2004 and 2005. As a senior, he earned First-Team All-State recognition and was selected as a Mississippi State All-Star.

Dawkins continued his playing career at Arizona Western College, where he was named Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year, earned First-Team All-Region I honors, and received NJCAA Second-Team All-American recognition.

He later transferred to Lamar University, where he continued to distinguish himself on the court. During his two seasons with the Cardinals, Dawkins earned Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, First-Team and Second-Team All-Southland, and NABC All-District recognition.

Following his collegiate career, Dawkins was selected by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft and earned a spot on the team’s final roster. His professional career subsequently took him abroad, where he competed for multiple organizations in Brazil and Mexico. Among his professional accomplishments, Dawkins was selected as a Brazilian NBB All-Star starter in 2013 and competed in the Basketball Champions League Americas.

Beyond his accomplishments as a player, Dawkins has dedicated significant time to training, mentoring, and developing athletes. As founder of 14K Training, his approach to player development emphasizes fundamentals, basketball IQ, discipline, work ethic, and personal growth.

Rust College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ed Newton said Dawkins’ experience and commitment to developing young men will strengthen the Bearcats program

“We are excited to welcome Kenny to our coaching staff and to the Bearcat basketball family,” Newton said. “His experience as a collegiate and professional player, along with his passion for player development, will be a tremendous asset to our program. Kenny understands what it takes to compete at a high level, but just as important, he understands the responsibility we have to mentor and develop young men beyond the game of basketball. We look forward to the knowledge, energy, and commitment he will bring to our student-athletes.”

For Dawkins, joining the Rust College coaching staff is more than the next step in his basketball career. It is an opportunity to return to the community where his own journey began and invest his experience and knowledge in the next generation.

“Coming home to Holly Springs and having the opportunity to join the Rust College men’s basketball program is very meaningful to me,” Dawkins said. “Basketball has taken me to many places and provided experiences that have shaped who I am as a player, coach, and mentor. Now, I have an opportunity to bring those experiences back home and invest them in the next generation. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve Rust College, help our student-athletes grow on and off the court, and contribute to building a program that our College and community can be proud of.”

In his role with the Bearcats, Dawkins will support the men’s basketball program in coaching, player development, mentorship, and preparation as Rust College continues its commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the court.