Gene Keady

In a business where no quarter is given, and none is ever asked, Gene Keady stood toe to toe against the titans of college basketball. The man was tough, honest to a fault, and above all else, undyingly loyal to those he became associated with during his six decades in the game. Keady landed his first head coaching job at a small-town high school located about 100 miles to the north of his backyard in Larned, Kansas. Humble beginnings for a future seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. After bouncing around for several years, Keady eventually landed at Purdue University, where he coached for 25 seasons and found his forever home. His Boilermakers mirrored the personality of their coach, giving everything to and getting everything from the game. Purdue won six Big Ten championships under Keady, including three in a row from 1994 to 1996. Keady was named the CBS National Coach of the Year twice during this same period. Keady was also named national Coach of the Year ten times during his career and often devoted the off-season to coaching for his country with USA Basketball.