A program builder and proven winner, Dustin Kerns was named the 22nd head coach in App State men’s basketball history on March 28, 2019.

During his fourth season as head coach, Kerns earned his 100th career coaching win and increased his win total to 70 at App State. His teams posted back-to-back 10-win seasons at home for the first time since 2012-13 while selling the most tickets in program history. The program also earned their first Power Five win since 2014 in a victory on the road at Louisville.

Kerns led teams continue to show tenacity on defense as they posted their best field goal percentage defense (.403) since the 1959-60 season. That mark led the Sun Belt and was the 19th best in the country. The Mountaineers also led the conference in scoring defense, allowing only 64.6 points per game while committing only 13.8 fouls per game, the eighth fewest in the country.

In his first three seasons leading the Mountaineers, Kerns has led the program to three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1997-2000. In addition, Kerns guided the Mountaineers to 35 Sun Belt victories and 17 true road wins, which are the most for a coach in his first three seasons since the 1940’s.

In his second and third seasons leading the Mountaineers, Kerns led the program to two straight Sun Belt Tournament semifinal appearances as well as two straight post-season appearances, the first time in program history. In 2021-22, the Mountaineers posted 12 conference wins, the most they’ve had during the Sun Belt era, earning a second-place league finish. Six of those conference wins were on the road, the most App State has had during the Sun Belt era. The Mountaineers continued to post an elite defense under Kerns tutelage, ranking sixth in the NCAA in fewest fouls committed per game (12.9) and only allowing 63.1 ppg, tops in the Sun Belt and 27th nationally.

During the 2020-21 season, Kerns and the Mountaineers posted a 17-12 record, culminating with the program’s first ever Sun Belt Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. Throughout the season, App State was ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for the first time since 2010. Again, the defense proved to be elite – holding teams to 64.1 points, the lowest since the 1980-81 season. Individually, App State had three players land All-Sun Belt honors, just the fourth time in program history that three players have been named all-conference in a season.

During his first season leading the Mountaineers, not only did the team see a significant improvement on the court from the year before, but they also excelled in the community and classroom. The program achieved the highest team GPA in program history during the fall semester in 2020 and ranked 10th nationally in community service hours throughout the country.

Prior to becoming the head coach of the Mountaineers, Kerns led Presbyterian for two seasons and immediately led the program to a five-win improvement in his first season before leading them to their first winning record and postseason appearance (CIT) as a Division I program. Kerns was named as a finalist for both the Hugh Durham Award (top mid-major coach) and the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year.

A 2002 graduate of Clemson, Kerns climbed through the coaching ranks on staffs with Buzz Peterson at Tennessee, Mike Young at Wofford, and Kerry Keating at Santa Clara. While at Wofford, he helped the Terriers claim back-to-back Southern Conference titles and NCAA appearances in 2014 and 2015. While at Santa Clara, he helped them capture the College Basketball Insider Tournament title in 2013 and a CIT title in 2011. During his coaching career, Kerns has coached 37 players who have gone on to coach professionally.

Kerns is married to his wife, Brittany Kerns and the couple has a daughter, Emory, and a son, Riggs.

“The relentless pursuit of greatness is an anomaly these days. But every once and awhile, I meet a person with that special something. That something that can elevate not only themselves, but more importantly, the people around them. Dustin Kerns has what it takes to elevate people. That within itself is a skill that can’t be taught. It’s a gift.”

Jay Williams
ESPN

“Dustin is one of the finest young coaches and mentors in college basketball. From the onset of his career, he always has displayed honesty and a strong work ethic both on and off the court.”

Larry Shyatt
Former Wyoming Head Coach

“He is a really good coach who is smart and hard working. He knows what it takes to build and maintain a successful college basketball program.”

Brad Stevens
President of Basketball Operations, Boston Celtics