Thanks to a great source who got HoopDirt.com out in front of this story first earlier this afternoon (BREAKING: Keating Out at Santa Clara). (**Edit: apparently ESPN beat us by 12 minutes on this one – I’ll type faster next time!)….
It’s now been made official, head men’s basketball coach Kerry Keating will not return to the Santa Clara bench next season.
The Broncos finished the season with an 11-20 record, including 7-11 mark in league action. Keating, who compiled a 139-159 record at the school, led the Broncos to the 2013 College Basketball Invitational postseason tournament title. Two years prior, the Broncos won the CollegeInsider.com postseason championship. A nationally-focused search for a new coach will proceed immediately.
“Coach Keating has been very dedicated to our men’s basketball program over the past nine years,” said director of athletics Renee Baumgartner. “I thank Kerry for his commitment to our student-athletes.”
The Broncos were successful in the classroom during Keating’s tenure with at least one player earning a spot on the WCC All-Academic team in eight of his nine seasons. Under Keating, all 22 players who reached their senior season earned degrees. The basketball program has a 100-percent graduation rate the last eight years.
A number of players earned accolades for their on-court success. Keating coached two WCC Freshman/Newcomer of Year players in Kevin Foster (2008-09) and Jared Brownridge (2013-14). Six of his players earned all-league accolades a total of 13 times. In addition, seven of his players earned a spot on the WCC All-Freshman team, including current members Brownridge (2013-14), Matt Hubbard (2014-15), and KJ Feagin (2015-16).
Before being hired on April 6, 2007, Keating spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA, helping the Bruins reach the NCAA Final Four in 2006 and 2007. He was also an assistant coach at Tennessee (2001-03), Tulsa (2000-01), Appalachian State (1998-2000), his alma mater Seton Hall (1995-98), and Vanderbilt (1994-95).
Keating, a native of Stoughton, Massachusetts, who was raised in Rockville Centre, New York, got his start in coaching by serving as an administrative assistant for Wake Forest during the 1993-94 season.
http://www.santaclarabroncos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2015-16/releases/20160307l2nu92
Photo Courtesy Santa Clara Athletics
