Former Purdue coach Keady, mourning loss of wife, speaks at Averett athletics banquet

Former Purdue University men’s basketball coach Gene Keady, making his first public appearance since the funeral of his wife Pat less than two weeks ago, spoke to student athletes at Averett University’s athletics banquet Tuesday night at the Grant Center in Danville.

Keady, a six-time college basketball National Coach of the Year, relayed several anecdotes about his late wife while talking about sportsmanship, success, being demanding of yourself, the power of staying positive and the wisdom in knowing when to move on.

“My wife passed away two weeks ago — my best friend. Thank God for people like (Averett Athletics Director) Sam Ferguson, invites me here, keeps me busy. I appreciate that very much,” Keady said.

“I think it’s really great the school recognizes all the sports and individuals. … This is very special because many schools wouldn’t have the men and women together for banquets, and all sports together is great. It’s unbelievable.”

Senior basketball player Jonathan Rumley, the USA South Conference Player of the Year and the university’s first All-America selection, was awarded the Tommy Foster Male Athlete of the Year Award and senior volleyball player Meredith Schwane received the Female Athlete of the Year Award from Averett President Dr. Tiffany Franks.

Keady, the winningest coach in Purdue history and the second-winningest coach in Big Ten Conference history behind former rival Bobby Knight, is an old friend of Charles Harris, Averett’s vice president for student services and former athletics director. Harris, once the AD at Arizona State, tried to lure Keady to join the Sun Devils many years ago.

The seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year compiled a career record of 550-289 in nearly three decades as a Division I men’s basketball coach, including a 25-year stint at Purdue during which the Boilermakers won six Big Ten regular season championships. Keady retired from Purdue in 2005 after leading the Boilers to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances.

He won a gold medal as an assistant coach for the United States at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and most recently was an assistant with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, a position he vacated in 2006.

“I think he brings a great deal of experience and some proven success that I’m hopeful some of these student athletes can walk away from here and learn from his experiences,” Ferguson said.

“And I just think it says so much about Coach Keady to come here at a time like this. Two weeks ago he lost his wife, and I just think it says so much about him. It had to be difficult, and I’m just so very thankful that he would do this. It was great.”

Keady’s wife, a fixture at Purdue’s Mackey Arena for more than two decades, had been battling a lengthy illness when she passed away April 6. Her illness was cited as a reason for him stepping away from coaching.

Currently a basketball analyst with the Big Ten Network, Keady said he has no plans to return to the bench.

“I’m enjoying the Big Ten Network, I’m on the Hall of Fame committee in Springfield, I’m on the NIT selection committee, and I’m helping Purdue raise money for the new building they’re going to build,” Keady said. “I’ve got plenty of work for the Big Ten Network, so I’ve got plenty to do.

“I’ve got to take care of my poodle. So I’m OK. And I play golf about five times a week, so that’s enough.”

Averett Athletics Banquet Awards
Gretchen Sheperty, athletic training
Jacob Waller, baseball
Dimitri Braakman, men’s basketball
Deandra Brown, women’s basketball
Ciearra Dalton, Olivia Frost and Kirsten Branch, cheerleading
Bryan Swaan and Pinja Laitinen, cross country
Nathan Woodruff, football
Joe Goldschmidt, golf
Samuli Markkanen, men’s soccer
Kirsten Martin, women’s soccer
Sandra Dennison, softball
Tommy Dodson, sports information
Will Sanford and Samantha Powell, tennis
Kayla Craddock, volleyball
Nathan Woodruff, Campbell Sportsmanship Award
Meredith Schwane, Female Athlete of the Year
Jonathan Rumley, Tommy Foster Male Athlete of the Year