A native of New Albany, basketball coach Kuykendall guided Hickory Flat to 2 Tallahatchie Conference titles, 5 district crowns, 4 North State titles and 3 Class B State Championships in 1983, 1985 and 1986. A graduate of East Union High, Delta State and Ole Miss, he began his 20-year coaching career at Nettleton, and he later coached at Horn Lake before entering academic administration. His boys' teams compiled a mark of 449-127, and he served as an All-Star boys' coach in 1982.