Keathley joining Keightley at Floyd County Chamber event

October 9, 2007 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
East Kentucky Miners News Release


PIKEVILLE, KY. - The Floyd County Chamber of Commerce with host East Kentucky Miners Coach Kevin Keathley and University of Kentucky men's basketball equipment manager Bill Keightley as co-guest speakers Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. during a membership drive tailgating social on the campus of Big Sandy Community & Technical College.

"I'm really excited about getting the opportunity to visit with Bill Keightley, an outstanding individual who is such a fixture in UK basketball history," said Keathley. "From the great teams of Coach (Adolph) Rupp on down to Coach (Joe B.) Hall and Coach (Rick) Pitino, Mr. Bill Keightley has had a strong presence within the Kentucky basketball program."

Known as Mr. Wildcat, Keightley has been associated with the UK men's basketball program since 1962. Keightley - who mans the Bill Keightley Room in Memorial Coliseum - is as much a fixture around Wildcat basketball as the program's seven national championship trophies. Now in his 44th season on the Wildcat bench, Keightley has experienced many championship moments. Kentucky's record over the four decades with Keightley as equipment manager is 1,023-307. During his tenure, Keightley has served under five UK head coaches - Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino and Orlando "Tubby" Smith. He is now entering a new chapter with first-year UK head coach Billy Gillispie.

In 1997, UK honored Keightley with a jersey. He joined veteran broadcaster Cawood Ledford as the only non-player or coach to have a jersey retired at the University of Kentucky.



Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from October 9, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central