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Keady agrees to contract extension through 2005

Keady

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

The rumors about Gene Keady accepting a job at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas can officially cease.

Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke announced Thursday that Keady has agreed to a contract extension through June 2005.

Keady, Purdue's all-time winningest coach with a record of 456-205 (.690) in 21 years, had two years remaining on his current contract and will sign a two-year extension.

Keady, who turns 65 on May 21, was among the candidates for the UNLV job, but he said several weeks ago that those were only rumors. In recent years, Keady has been a candidate for head coaching vacancies at Arizona State, Ohio State and San Diego State.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, yet Keady and his wife, Pat, were happy with the deal.

"We've enjoyed our time here and have no desire to coach anywhere else; Purdue is the right place for me," Keady said in a released statement.

Keady will be coaching the College All-Stars against the Harlem Globetrotters tonight at the Final Four in Minneapolis.

Burke said Keady's strong feelings for Purdue, and the values it stands for, make this the right place for him.

"Gene enjoys what he's doing and is very good at it," Burke said in a release. "He's a wonderful teacher and has the full respect of his players. He is a master at what he does."

Purdue's season ended last week with an 85-77 double-overtime loss to Alabama in the third round of the National Invitation Tournament. The Boilers finished with a record of 17-15. It was the second-worst record in the Keady era and only the third time the team didn't make the NCAA tournament with the coach.

After beginning the season 13-6, the team lost junior post players John Allison and Rodney Smith for a crucial stretch at the end of the regular season, but Keady, a seven-time Big Ten coach of the year, kept the team organized. Burke noticed.

"You could see in their eyes how the players respect him, admire him and play hard for him," Burke said. "I know they are excited about the prospects for next year and beyond."

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