By now, everyone in the SFN community is aware that Kevin Keatts is our new men’s basketball head coach.
Obviously, only time will reveal if Keatts proves a great hire. But today — without being privy to the details — the optics on this suggest Keatts is a solid hire.
If nothing else, credit Yow with the efficient hiring of one of our three realistic targets — Archie, Wade, Keatts (we were always priced out of Marshall) — within 24 hours of him being available. Moreover, the hire has been universally praised nationally, which is important to shifting the perception of our program towards the positive.
All indications suggest (for whatever the reasons) Archie was not interested, and Wade would meet with his alma mater if they’re ready to replace Brownell. So Keatts was hired quickly and drama-free before he could meet with any number of others — LSU or Illinois, for instance.
Contrast that to the previous searches in 2006 and 2011, both of which dragged into April and ended, after public spurnings, with the hiring of coaches not even on our target list, and a general negative perception nationally about the state of our program. Also consider the many moving pieces that begin in earnest as teams are eliminated this weekend — any of which could have impacted a result.
But I will admit, there’s a part of me that will miss the too-familiar dumpster fire of a tragedy that could’ve been with a protracted coaching search ending with Seth Greenburg or Dan Dakich.
