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K.C. Keeler’s contract extended through 2009 season 5:11 p.m., April 14, 2004--The University of Delaware has extended the contract of football Head Coach K.C. Keeler through the 2009 season, it was announced Wednesday afternoon by Director of Athletics Edgar N. Johnson. Keeler, who led the Blue Hens to the NCAA Division I-AA national championship in December, began his first season as head coach in 2002. “In just two seasons, K.C. Keeler has taken our football program to great heights,” Johnson said. “This is a way to show our support for him, his staff and his players. University of Delaware football has a proud history. We are extremely pleased with where we are now and are just as excited about the future.” Keeler, 44, who replaced legendary head coach and College Football Hall of Fame member Tubby Raymond following the 2001 campaign, needed just two seasons to lead the Hens to a national championship. Keeler compiled a 6-6 record in his first season, in 2002, then followed up with a history-making 15-1 record this past season that culminated with the national title. It was UD’s sixth national football championship overall and its first in Division I-AA. In addition to winning the national title, UD shared the Atlantic 10 Football Conference title with the University of Massachusetts, won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Team of the Year Award, received the Lambert Cup trophy as the top team in the East, was named the state’s Team of the Year by the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association and was selected the Delaware Valley Team of the Year by the Philadelphia Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association. Keeler placed fourth in the balloting for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the top coach in Division I-AA football, and was the winner of the Maxwell Club Tri-State Coach of the Year Award. The 2003 Hens produced four All-Americans in quarterback Andy Hall, offensive guard Jason Nerys, running back Germaine Bennett and defensive end Shawn Johnson. A native of Emmaus, Pa., Keeler has posted a two-year record of 21-7 and his career head coaching record, which includes nine seasons at NCAA Division III Rowan University, stands at 109-28-1 in 11 seasons. This past season he became the second fastest active Division I-AA head coach to reach 100 career victories, achieving the milestone in just 128 games in a 22-21 win over the University of New Hampshire on Oct. 11. While at Rowan, Keeler led the Profs to seven Division III national semifinal appearances and five championship game appearances between 1993-2001. He also led Rowan to four New Jersey Athletic Conference titles and was named league Coach of the Year three times. UD will end spring practice with the annual Blue-White Game at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 16, at Delaware Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on WRDX-FM The River 94.7. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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