NC State Basketball: In-depth look at Wolfpack Head Coach Kevin Keatts

By Zac Voynow | Jan 14, 2019

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 15: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina State Wolfpack calls out instructions in the first half against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 16: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks watches on against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Making the jump

Kevin Keatts got his first big chance in NCAA Division one basketball at Louisville under legendary head coach Rick Pitino. It’s been reported that Keatts was the deciding factor for Russ Smith, Luke Hancock, Terry Rozier, Montrezl Harrell, and Peyton Siva to decide to play basketball at Louisville.

Following Keatts large roll in Louisville’s 2013 NCAA championship, Pitino decided to promote him to head associate coach. That means he was Pitino’s right hand man on the court, and his number one recruiter. With that title comes great responsibility, especially at a powerhouse program like Louisville. He used his connections at Hargrave and beyond to bring in some of the best players in the nation to for coach Pitino at Louisvile. Pitino knew Keatts had bigger and better things awaiting him, and that those opportunities would come sooner rather later. Following the 2014 NCAA tournament, one phone call changed his life forever.

First head coaching job

UNC Wilmington athletic director Jimmy Bass was on the other end of the line. Kevin Keatts jumped at the chance to be a Division one head coach. It also happened to be at a program that was nationally recognized for its success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but had come to a sputtering halt under head coach Buzz Peterson.

UNCW was coming off a season where they only won 9 games. They also experienced an embarrassing 14-game losing streak in the middle of the season, and Peterson’s time in Wilmington had run out. Kevin Keatts came to Wilmington as the only person in the city with high expectations. Keatts immediately turned the team around. Following their disastrous 9-23 season, they went 18-14 and made the CIT postseason tournament, while Keatts was awarded the CAA coach of the year.

He followed that up with another CAA coach of the year award and the programs first NCAA tournament berth since 2006. They narrowly lost to Duke in the most watched game outside of the Final Four in the 2015-16 NCAA tournament. His third season with the Seahawks brought the same success, except this time he had more of his own players and the team seemed more polished. They finished with a fantastic 29-6 record, and made the Big Dance for the second year in a row before ultimately following to Virginia 76-71.

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