CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga announced Wednesday the hiring of Kotie Kimble as the team’s new assistant coach. Kimble’s hire is pending the completion of a standard University background check.
Kimble comes to The U with 14 years of Division I coaching experience, including the last four at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
“I’m humbled and excited to be a part of the University of Miami basketball program. I’d like to thank Jim Larrañaga for providing me with this amazing opportunity to come work for him, not only in the best conference in the country, but at one of the world’s most recognizable schools,” Kimble said. “I also want to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to Ron Sanchez and everyone else who made my time at Charlotte so special. That said, it’s truly an honor to be a Miami Hurricane. I will pour all I have into helping this excellent program continue to reach new heights and into assisting our players’ pursuit of their goals.”
In July 2020, Stadium’s Jeff Goodman ranked Kimble as a top-five assistant coach in Conference USA based off an anonymous poll of 20-plus coaches in the league.
A renowned recruiter, Kimble helped Charlotte sign the top class in CUSA each of the last four years. Included in that group is Jahmir Young, a three-time All-CUSA honoree, two-time first-team designee and the 2020 CUSA Freshman of the Year.
Inheriting a program that went 6-23 in 2017-18, the year before he arrived alongside head coach Ron Sanchez, Kimble helped Charlotte to a 16-13 campaign in 2019-20, good for the team’s most wins since 2013-14.
The 49ers also went 10-8 in CUSA play in 2019-20 to finish fourth in the league after being picked No. 12 in the preseason poll. It marked the first time the 49ers finished above .500 in conference action since going 9-7 in 2009-10 in the Atlantic 10 and the first time they won double-digit league games since an 11-5 mark in 2005-06 in A10 play.
Two years later, during the recent 2021-22 season, the 49ers exceeded that overall win total by going 17-14. Charlotte also again finished 10-8 in CUSA play, giving the team multiple winning league records in a three-year stretch for the first time since 2003-06.
The program posted its most road wins (six) since 2011-12 and most conference road victories (four) since 2009-10, both during its A10 era. Meanwhile, Young placed third in the CUSA in scoring at 19.6 points per game, his second straight top-five finish.
“Kotie is an excellent addition to our program. He is an intelligent coach with an energetic personality who will mesh well both with the staff members and players already here in Coral Gables,” Larrañaga said. “Kotie’s 14 years of coaching experience have him well-prepared to make an immediate impact at Miami. People whom Kotie has worked for and with rave about him. He has climbed his way up through the industry with a strong work ethic, excellent recruiting acumen and tremendous knowledge of the sport.”