Keene State Acting Head Basketball Coach David Hastings will not be considered for the permanent job next season according to a report from the Keene Sentinel.
Hastings led the Owls to a 26-4 (15-1) record, captured the Little East Conference Championship, and advanced to the NCAA D3 Sweet 16. But…because he does not have a bachelor’s degree, he won’t be considered for the position.
“This decision is based not on performance but on minimum qualification thresholds for this position, and all Keene State head coaching roles, as specified by the University System of New Hampshire. … These job qualifications are adhered to for consistency and competitiveness in the hiring process, among other reasons,” President Melinda Treadwell said in a statement Thursday. “This is not about David’s performance, but it is about disrupting structures across our system that are intentional and designed to recruit coaches in a way that is consistent and in the best interest of our respective institutions. David has been steadfast during his many years with the men’s basketball team at Keene State, and I am grateful and appreciative of his dedication and passion on and away from the court.”
Hastings, who served four years in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division (was a sergeant), and is a former police Chief (spent 34 years in law enforcement). Apparently life experience is not as important as a piece of paper.
A disheartened Hastings told the Sentinel. “I am disappointed that my history of service to my country and to my community in law enforcement and my collective service isn’t viewed in a way that makes me eligible. I think my background is pretty good,” Hastings added. “I don’t have a piece of paper that says I went to school. … I was confident that I was going to be able to keep this job and that something would be figured out. It’s a shame.” Hastings added that he still intends to apply for the position.
Hastings had been on the KSC staff for eight seasons, serving five of those as the associate head coach. He took over as the Acting Head Coach in July 2023 after Ryan Cain departed for Johns Hopkins.
A national search is now underway at Keene State.
