New Coach Named for Sauk Valley Predators
November 30, 2011 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Sauk Valley Predators News Release
The Sauk Valley Predators of the PBL are proud to welcome and introduce one of America's top young basketball coaches Kevin Keathley as the teams new head coach. "We are extremely excited to have Kevin be the leader of our organization", stated Brad and Leah Grenoble, owners of the Predators, "his passion for the sport and talent as a coach will be extremely beneficial to your team".
Coach Kevin Keathley, has spent 10 seasons as a coach on both the college and professional levels and over the course of his coaching career he has never had a losing season. Coach Keathley has become known for his fast-paced offensive philosophy, which can only be compared to Loyola Marymount's Run-N-Gun style under Paul Westhead of the early 1990's. During his stint as head coach of the East Kentucky Miners of the CBA, his team set several pro basketball and CBA scoring records. Two of his most notable records was setting the all-time single game scoring record for FIBA sanctioned teams in America. East Kentucky Scored 194 points against Atlanta in the 2008 season finale. During the 2008-2009 CBA-ABA inter-league challenge, Keathley's team went 10-0, the Miners defeated the West Virginia Wild 172-70, setting the largest margin of victory in CBA history (102) one of the most one-sided wins in the history of professional basketball.
During his stint in the CBA, Keathley's team had two winning seasons and his team led the CBA in scoring both years averaging 111 points in 2007-2008 and 115 points in 2008-2009 season. During his CBA tenure, Coach had 3 players named to the All-CBA team, 3 to the All-star team and had 2 All-CBA rookies.
In December of 2008, Coach earned CBA coach of the month honors.
Kevin has also became known as having an eye for talent and developing players during his career, including when as head coach of the Kentucky Colonels in 2004 he signed future NBA StarJamario Moon. Under Keathleys guidance during the 2004-05 seasons, the Colonels were ranked second in the ABA in scoring and made a run to the Elite 8 of the ABA playoffs. Keathley also found time to pick up some hardware for himself when he was named an ABA Coach of the Year in 2005. Before his stint with the Colonels, Keathley helped guide the Louisville Eagles to the inaugural League championship of the United Pro Basketball League. Keathley served as the Eagles associate head coach from 2002 to 2003.Keathley began his coaching career on the College level serving as Top Assistant Coach & Interim Coach for Lees College in his home state of Kentucky from (1998-2000) and then St. Catharine College (2001-02). While at Lees, Kevin helped lead the team to a #7 national ranking as the youngest assistant and later interim head coach in the school's history.
In 2009-2010, Keathley served as Assistant Coach & Advisor to the G.M. (Steve Tucker)for the South East Texas Mavericks of the ABA where he helped lead the Mavericks to their first ABA Championship. Keathley was honored in 2010 by the American Basketball Association as Associate Coach of the Year. The Mavericks finished the season 28-4.
Most recently, Keathley Was selected by the NBA D League to serve as a Coach in the NBA Pre-Draft camp held in Louisville, Ky. Keathley worked with some of the top up and coming coaches in pro basketball. Among the coaches also selected were RJ Adelman, Houston Rockets Assistant Coach, Nate Bjorkgren, Head Coach of the Dakota Wizards, Bob Makinnon, Head Coach of the Sringfield Armor.
Keathley served briefly as an Assistant Coach in the NBA D League before joining the Sauk Valley Predators.When he's not out winning championships and coaching future NBA All-Stars, Kevin Keathley can be found putting his knowledge of basketball to paper, including his 2004 book Hardwood Constitution: A Blueprint to Coaching Success one of the top selling basketball books on the Internet.
Off-the court, Keathley is just as committed to his community as he is his team. Coach has been actively involved in Child Abuse awareness over the years receiving recognition for his efforts. From the Special Olympics to Working with the local YMCA's and UNITE (a drug awareness agency in Kentucky), Coach Kevin Keathley is committed to making a positive impact off the basketball court. Keathley has also held basketball camps all over the Kentucky region, sending a positive message to Kentucky's youth.
Coach supports the local Kiwanis clubs and rotary clubs, speaking at various chapters throughout Kentucky.
In 2009 Pro Basketball News ranked Keathley as one of the Top 10 Coaches in America currently not in the NBA.
The Coach Keathley File:
Overall Coaching Record: 191-109
2003 UPBL Championship
2005 Co-ABA Coach of the Year
2006 Named one of the top 10 Young Coaches in America by Pro Basketball News
2007 Led the CBA in Scoring
2007 Set the CBA Scoring record with 194 points
2008 Set the All-time CBA Scoring Margin of victory (102 points)
2008 CBA Coach of the month
2009 Named one of the top 10 Coaches in America not in the NBA By Pro Basketball News
2010 ABA Associate Coach of The Year
2010 ABA National Champions South East Texas Mavericks
2011 NBA D League National Pre-Draft Camp Coach
Teams Led the CBA in scoring both seasons
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Premier Basketball League Stories from November 30, 2011
- Gunners Finalizing Roster As Season Approaches - Charleston Gunners
- New Coach Named for Sauk Valley Predators - Sauk Valley Predators
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