The Kern Community College District approved the hiring of Lynn Kennedy as Bakersfield College’s new athletic director and dean of kinesiology and athletics at its board meeting Thursday. Kennedy, who most recently served as the head women’s basketball coach at Metropolitan State University in Denver for the 2025-26 season, starts June 1.
Kennedy, 53, was one of three new hires approved at the meeting. BC removed interim tags from BC President Stacy Pfluger and Vice President of Instruction Jessica Wojtysiak.
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Athletically speaking, Kennedy will replace Ayanna Tweedy, who has served as the interim athletic director at BC since August. Tweedy was hired following the placing of John “Reggie” Bolton on administrative leave in June 2025. Bolton, a former BC football coach and defensive coordinator, had served in the athletic director and dean of kinesiology and athletics roles since 2020.
Kennedy signed a contract that runs through June 30, 2027, at which time the agreement shall be automatically extended for one year after serving in the position. Upon receiving a satisfactory job performance evaluation, the agreement will be renewed for three years.
Kennedy has 30 years of leadership experience across NCAA Divisions 1 and 2, NAIA and high school athletics. He has been women’s basketball head coach at McNeese State, Portland State, Southern Oregon University and New Mexico Highlands University. Kennedy has 19 years experience as an adjunct faculty member, compliance director and spent his first 11 years after his own playing career ended by working in the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks organization in multiple roles.
One of his biggest attributes as head coach was taking over programs with low win totals and helping them transform into conference champions. He led Portland State to the NCAA women’s tournament.
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“The foundation of what I’ve done throughout my career, whether it was teaching, administration or coaching, is grounded in the philosophy of building relationships, going across campus and communicating with other departments, executive teams and administrators as well as building relationships with your team, student-athletes and students in your classes. To me that’s very important,” Kennedy said Monday at a community open forum.
“How do we do that? With communication, trust, respect and accountability. Those are the four pillars I’ve had during the foundation of my career.”
Kennedy received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., has a Master of Physical Education from Tacoma’s Pacific Lutheran University and an MBA from New Mexico Highlands. He is a strong advocate for community involvement, academic success, leadership development and has served as a professor at each of his past institutions.
CSUB BASKETBALL GM
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The Cal State Bakersfield men’s basketball program took a major step into its past this week as head coach Todd Lee and acting Director of Athletics Sarah Tuohy announced that its all-time leading rebounder, Beau Redstone, has been named the program’s general manager, the first position of its kind for a CSUB program.
The standout forward who played for CSUB from 1988-92 when it was in the early stages of NCAA Division 2 success, Redstone returns “in a role designed to strengthen alumni engagement, community relationships, and the overall student-athlete experience,” a CSUB Athletics press release issued on Wednesday stated.
“Beau has so much passion and pride for our basketball program,” Lee said. “He is driven to get CSUB basketball back to where it belongs, competing for championships. Bakersfield is a unique community in the Western part of the country and the Big West Conference. Beau knows if we get our great city and Kern County back supporting our program the potential is unlimited. He is committed to doing just that and will work tirelessly to make that happen. We are very lucky to have him be a big part of our basketball program, a program he loves so much.”
Redstone was a three-time CCAA all-conference honoree, scored 1,301 career points to go with his career-high 949 rebounds. He also earned NABC All-Region First Team honors in 1992 and was CCAA All-Tournament MVP.
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When Lee came to Cal State Bakersfield in the mid 1990s, he continued the rolling momentum established by ‘Runners like Redstone and his teammates. CSUB reached the NCAA Division 2 Elite Eight in each of Redstone’s final three seasons, including Final Four appearances in 1990, 1991 and 1992.
A Bakersfield native and Bakersfield High standout, Redstone has remained deeply connected to his hometown and the CSUB community since graduating. He has spent more than 30 years as a special education teacher for the Kern High School District while also scattering basketball and golf coaching duties across his tenure. Redstone has also served as an analyst for CSUB men’s and women’s basketball game broadcasts.
“I’m truly excited for the opportunity to bring the community of Bakersfield back together with CSUB Basketball,” said Redstone. “With the leadership of coach Lee and his staff, I believe Roadrunner Basketball will be special once again.”As general manager, Redstone will work closely with Lee and the men’s basketball staff to support the program’s external relations, alumni outreach, community engagement and student-athlete development. His role will help connect the program’s past to its present and future while expanding the presence of the program throughout Bakersfield and Kern County.
TRAIN ROBBERS
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The Bakersfield Train Robbers minor-league baseball team improved its record to 2-1, getting an 8-7 win in the first of a three-game home series against the Dublin Leprechauns Wednesday at Sam Lynn Ballpark.
Joe Riddle hit a two-run home run in the first inning, Christian Alamirano walked with the bases loaded for a run in the sixth and had a two-run single in the eighth to highlight a three-run Train Robbers effort and a 6-3 lead.
Dublin scored four runs in the ninth for a 7-6 lead on an error, a two-run single by Damon Hale and an RBI single by DJ Aceron. But Bakersfield scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth with runners on base and Dublin relief pitcher Tony Torres throwing consecutive wild pitches to score Sam Ott and Jumpei Ohashi.
The Train Robbers and Leprechauns continued their Pecos League series on Thursday night and will close a five-game Bakersfield homestand tonight with a 7:45 start time.
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KERN RACEWAY
Saturday at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, the facility will host JSTSTANCE, a touring program that focuses on spotlighting all aspects of car culture.
The event will include a car show with all makes and models, burnout box, an open exhibition and a vendor midway.
General admission tickets for this event are $25 online and the price goes to $30 on Saturday. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information or to purchase tickets beyond general admission, visit www.kernraceway.com.
