UNC Wilmington Athletics

Kevin Keatts took over the UNCW program in the spring of 2014 and in two short years has orchestrated one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA Division I men’s basketball.

After going without a postseason berth the previous eight seasons, the Seahawks have now made back-to-back postseason appearances, reaching the pinnacle in 2015-16 with the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2005-06 campaign.

Along the way, Keatts has steered the Seahawks to back-to-back CAA regular season titles, 22 home victories and put the program back on the map as one of the nation’s top mid-majors.

Kevin Keatts came to the Port City after serving three highly-successful seasons on the staff of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino at Louisville.

Keatts, who was introduced as UNCW’s 11th men’s basketball coach on April 1, 2014, was named CAA Coach-of-the-Year in 2014-15 after carrying a team that finished last in the CAA in 2013-14 to its sixth regular season conference championship and a final record of 18-14.

In 2015-16, the Seahawks were tabbed to finish sixth, but Keatts worked his magic again, piloting the team to its first CAA title since 2006 and becoming the first coach in conference history to earn CAA Coach-of-the-Year accolades in successive seasons. UNCW tied the school record with its 25-8 record.

Keatts, 43, joined UofL after heading up the program at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. He led Hargrave to a pair of national prep championships and three runner-up finishes during his time at the prep school. Keatts then moved on to Louisville as an assistant coach in April of 2011 and was elevated to associate head coach in January of 2014.

The engaging Keatts is known for his recruiting expertise. He helped the Cardinals compile two straight top-10 recruiting classes en route to a pair of Big East Conference championships and NCAA Final Four appearances in 2012 and 2013. In 2012-13, the Cardinals won a school-record 35 games and captured the NCAA title.

In 2013-14, the Cardinals, the 2013 national champions, picked up where they left off, streaking to seven straight wins en route to a third consecutive appearance in the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen.

Keatts is no secret to those in the basketball world. After surveying more than 200 collegiate coaches, he was named the third most respected/feared assistant coach in July of 2013 by ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman.

Prior to arriving at Louisville, Keatts served as the head coach at HMA. In 10 seasons with two separate stints at Hargrave (1999-2001, 2003-2011), he compiled an impressive 263-17 record with two national prep championships (2004, 2008), three runner-up finishes (2005, 2006, 2009) and two other appearances among the final four prep teams (2007, 2010).

Keatts, who was inducted into Hargrave’s Hall of Fame in 2011, won his second national prep title in 2008 with an unblemished 29-0 record – the school’s first undefeated season. His teams lost one or fewer games six times.

Hargrave produced 103 players who signed NCAA Division I men’s basketball scholarships during Keatts’ 10 seasons and 18 others played on the NCAA Division II level. Luke Hancock,  the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 NCAA Final Four for the Cardinals,  played at Hargrave under Keatts.

Keatts has coached nine players at the prep level who have reached the NBA, including Joe Alexander, Jordan Crawford, Josh Howard, Vernon Macklin, Mike Scott, Marreese Speights, Sam Young, David West and Korleone Young.

Keatts has also had stops as an assistant coach at Marshall and Southwestern Michigan College. He worked for two seasons at Marshall from 2001-03 under former head coach Greg White and assisted with the program at Southwestern Michigan in Dowagiac, Mich., during the 1996-97 campaign.

Keatts was a two-sport standout in football and basketball at Heritage High School in Lynchburg, Va., and went on to play four seasons of basketball as a point guard at Ferrum (Va.) College.

Keatts, one of 10 former Pitino aides now working as active NCAA Division I head coaches, and his wife, Georgette, have two sons, K.J. and Kaden.

Born: July 26, 1972, in Lynchburg, Va.
High School: 1991 graduate of Heritage High School, Lynchburg, Va.
College: B.A., Marshall University, 2011
Family: Wife, Georgette; Sons, Kevin & Kaden

-Played point guard/shooting guard four seasons at Ferrum (Va.) College from 1991-95

-Served as assistant coach for two seasons at Marshall and one year as assistant coach at Southwestern Michigan College

-Embarking on first NCAA Division I head coaching job

-Coached Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., to 263-17 record in 10 seasons as a head coach

-Won two national prep school championships at Hargrave Military Academy

-Coached nine players at the prep level who have reached the NBA, including Joe Alexander, Jordan Crawford, Josh Howard, Vernon Macklin, Mike Scott, Marreese Speights, Sam Young, David West and Korleone Young

-Coached 103 players who signed NCAA Division I men’s basketball scholarships at Hargrave Military Academy

-Has helped Louisville compiled a 96-20 record in three seasons heading into 2014 NCAA Sweet Sixteen

-Coached current Seahawk Craig Ponder at Hargrave Military Academy during 2010-11 season

-Has faced four common opponents with UNCW during 2013-14 season: Hofstra (W 97-69), North Carolina (L 93-84), Western Kentucky (W 79-63), Manhattan (W 71-64)

-Named the third most respected/feared assistant coach by ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman in July of 2013

-Helped Louisville compile two straight top-10 recruiting classes en route to a pair of Big East Conference championships and NCAA Final Four appearances in 2012 and 2013

-Helped Cardinals win school-record 35 games and capture the NCAA title in 2013

-Elevated to associate head coach at Louisville this past January after joining the Cardinals as assistant coach in April of 2011

-Comes to UNCW from the Louisville Cardinals. The cardinal was actually designated the state bird of North Carolina in 1943

-One of 11 former Pitino aides now working as active NCAA Division I head coaches. Overall, Pitino has had 27 former assistants become head coaches through the years

Hargrave
-Coached national prep champions, 2004 (Hargrave Military Academy)
-Coached national prep champions, 2008 (Hargrave Military Academy)
-Hargrave Military Academy Hall of Fame, 2011

Louisville
-Associate Head Coach for NCAA National Champion, 2013 (Louisville)
-Third Most Respected/Feared Coach, 2013 (ESPN)

UNCW (2014-15)
-Colonial Athletic Association Coach-of-the-Year, 2015
-Finalist for Joe B. Hall National Coach-of-the-Year, 2015 (CollegeInsider.com)
-Finalist for Ben Jobe Award, 2015 (CollegeInsider.com)
-Top First-Year Head Coach, 2015 (Basketball Times)
-NABC District 10 Coach-of-the-Year, 2015

UNCW (2015-16)
-Colonial Athletic Association Coach-of-the-Year, 2016
-Finalist for Hugh Durham Mid-Major National Coach-of-the-Year, 2016 (CollegeInsider.com)
-Finalist for Ben Jobe Award, 2016 (CollegeInsider.com)
-NABC District 10 Coach-of-the-Year, 2016

April 1, 2014: Kevin Keatts is named UNCW’s 11th men’s basketball coach during a press conference on the floor of Trask Coliseum.

April 22, 2014: Kevin Keatts begins to assemble his coaching staff with the addition of Takayo Siddle Casey Stanley as assistant coaches.

May 20, 2014: Kevin Keatts announced that freshmen Malik Pugh and Jordon Talley and Jacksonville transfer Jarvis Haywood will join the program.

June 12, 2014: Thomas joins the program as the third assistant coach on Kevin Keatts’ staff.

July 3, 2014: Transfers Marcus Bryan (UNC Charlotte), Denzel Ingram (UNC Charlotte) and Chris Flemmings (Barton) become the latest players to announce their plans to become Seahawks.

October 3, 2014: The Seahawks begin fall drills for the first time under new skipper Kevin Keatts.

October 9, 2014: Kevin Keatts is named one of the five notable first-year coaches by Athlon Sports Magazine.

November 12, 2014: Kevin Keatts announces his first recruiting class of C.J. Bryce, Devontae Cacok, Trey Gundy and Mark Matthews.

November 15, 2014: Kevin Keatts makes his debut as UNCW’s new head coach in a 76-56 loss to Old Dominion at the Ted Constant Center in Norfolk, Va.

November 18, 2014: Kevin Keatts posts his first career victory and first road win when the Seahawks enjoy the best shooting night in their NCAA Division I era with a 65.3 percent effort against UNC Greensboro in an 84-72 win at the Greensboro Coliseum.

December 3, 2014: Kevin Keatts collects his first home win when the Seahawks cruise past NAIA member St. Andrews, 105-47, at Trask Coliseum.

December 3, 2014: In a memorable, high scoring  home debut, Kevin Keatts coaches the Seahawks to a 105-47 rout of St. Andrews for the most lopsided victory in the history of the program.

December 10, 2014: The Greater Wilmington Business Journal names Kevin Keatts Wilmington’s Most Intriguing Person of 2014 during the group’s Power Breakfast Series at the Wilmington Convention Center.

December 14, 2014: In his first trip back to his former school, Kevin Keatts has his Seahawks on the brink of a major upset before UNCW falls, 68-57, to No. 4 Louisville before 20,962 fans at the KFC Yum! Center.

December 17, 2014: UNCW outscores Liberty, 11-8, in the extra period to give Kevin Keatts his first overtime victory in a 73-70 decision over the Flames at Trask Coliseum.

December 20, 2014: In his first pairing with longtime rival East Carolina, Keatts pilots the Seahawks to a 66-54 victory before 4,388 fans at Trask Coliseum.

Jan. 3, 2015: Hofstra rallies in second half to down UNCW, 68-56, in Kevin Keatts’ first game in the CAA at Trask Coliseum.

Jan. 5, 2015: UNCW never trails in stunning preseason CAA favorite Northeastern, 75-68, in Kevin Keatts’ first conference road game in Boston.

Jan. 8, 2015: Kevin Keatts picks up his first CAA home win when the Seahawks rally past visiting Delaware, 74-73, in overtime at Trask Coliseum.

Jan. 21, 2015: The Seahawks achieve the program’s first winning season in five years with a 73-69 road victory at Towson during a snowy afternoon at SECU Arena.

Feb. 28, 2015: UNCW ties with three other teams for the CAA regular season championship, marking the school’s first regular season crown since 2006.

Mar. 5, 2015: Kevin Keatts is named CAA Coach-of-the-Year by a wide margin on the eve of the 2015 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship in Baltimore.

Mar. 7, 2015: The Seahawks post their first CAA Tournament win in Baltimore as Kevin Keatts pilots the team to a 77-53 crushing of the College of Charleston at Royal Farms Arena.

Mar. 13, 2015: Kevin Keatts is named a finalist for both the Joe B. Hall Award and Ben Jobe Award by CollegeInsider.com.

Mar. 26, 2015: Kevin Keatts is selected NABC UPS Division I Coach-of-the-Year in District 10.

Mar. 26, 2015: Kevin Keatts is named top rookie coach in NCAA Division I basketball ranks by Basketball Times Magazine.

Jan. 31, 2016: The Seahawks return to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll for the first time since 2005-06 with a ranking of No. 22.

Feb. 4, 2016: In a stirring comeback, the Seahawks erase a 20-point deficit to stun Hofstra, 70-67, at the Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead, N.Y.

Feb. 8, 2016: The Seahawks collect votes in The Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Feb. 11, 2016: The Seahawks set a school record for consecutive wins with their 10th straight victory in an 86-82 decision over Elon at Trask Coliseum. The streak reaches 11 games with another victory over JMU two days later.

Feb. 13, 2016: Kevin Keatts pilots the Seahawks to their first 20-win season in eight years with a 78-68 victory over James Madison at Trask Coliseum.

Feb. 20, 2016: Kevin Keatts improves to 5-0 in overtime as UNCW’s coach when the Seahawks edge the College of Charleston, 59-55, in extra time at TD Arena in Charleston.

Feb. 27, 2016: UNCW clinches its second consecutive regular season championship and the eighth in school history with a 74-68 triumph over Towson in the regular season finale at Trask Coliseum.

Mar. 3, 2016: Kevin Keatts is named CAA Coach-of-the-Year for second straight year, becoming the first head coach in the history of the conference to earn the distinction in back-to-back seasons.

Mar. 6, 2016: The Seahawks reach the CAA Championship game for the first time in 10 years by edging defending conference champion Northestern, 73-70, at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.

Mar. 7, 2016: UNCW locks up CAA’s automatic berth in NCAA Tournament with 80-73 overtime victory over Hofstra at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Md.

Mar. 17, 2016: The Seahawks lead defending national champion Duke at halftime, 43-40, before falling, 93-85, in the first round of the NCAA West Regional in Providence, R.I.

Mar. 25, 2016: Kevin Keatts is named NABC Coach-of-the-Year in District 10 for the second straight season.
 

“Kevin has been one of the best assistant coaches with which I have had the good fortune to work, and I’ve had a lot of them,” said University of Louisville Coach Rick Pitino, who has 12 of his former assistant coaches as current collegiate head coaches, including five who had their teams in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. He is a terrific person, coach, scout, family man and recruiter.  He possesses all of the variables to build a successful program. We are really going to miss his upbeat personality that provided sunshine to each of us daily. We will thoroughly miss him in our program and thank him for his efforts in helping us reach two Final Fours, win three straight conference championships and a national title.”

 -Rick Pitino
  Head Coach, University of Louisville

“Kevin Keatts is an outstanding young basketball coach. He’s a proven recruiter and winner, and he does a terrific job teaching, on the floor and off. Kevin doesn’t just teach the game, he teaches the players.”

-Jay Bilas
  ESPN

“In my 30 years of coaching basketball at Oak Hill Academy, I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds of college coaches. In my opinion, none stands out like Kevin Keatts. His knowledge of the game, his professionalism, and his ability to recruit, puts him at the very top of the list of all those who have visited my campus and recruited my players.”

-Steve Smith
 Head Coach, Oak Hill Academy

“Kevin’s experience on all levels, his character and ability to connect with people has served him well. He’s learned the game through the eyes of an assistant and head coach and succeeded at every level. The next step in his career progression is collegiate head coach and he’s ready to lead. I can’t think of a better person to mentor players and cultivate a team than Kevin.”

-Dave Telep
 Scouting Coordinator/San Antonio Spurs

“Kevin not only knows players and where they are, but once he has them in his program, he has the unique ability to pull the most out of them while maintaining a special relationship with them at the same time.”

-Greg Marshall
 Head Coach, Wichita State University

“Kevin Keatts is one of the top young basketball coaches in the country and we welcome him to the Seahawk family. We’re very excited about what lies ahead for our program. Kevin is a bright star in the profession and he’s had the opportunity to work with one of the most successful coaches ever in Rick Pitino. We’re looking forward to having him on campus and working hard to bring our program back to the forefront of college basketball.”

-Jimmy Bass
 Director of Athletics, UNCW