CSNbbs

Steve Lavin adds Gene Keady to staff

By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

St. John's coach Steve Lavin has added former Purdue coach Gene Keady to his staff.

Lavin told ESPN.com Thursday that Keady, 74, will serve as the executive assistant or advisor to the head coach. Lavin said Keady will stay with St. John's from October to April and then make cameo appearances in the offseason as necessary.


AP Photo
Gene Keady, left, will once again be by his protege's side. Keady has joined St. John's coaching staff and will assist his former assistant, Steve Lavin, right.

St. John's was expected to make the announcement official Friday.

"The main responsibility that he'll have with St. John's basketball program will be to be here from October to April to observe practices, be in our coaching staff meetings and helping with our practice planning," Lavin said.

Lavin worked for Keady at Purdue from 1988-91 when current Boilermakers coach Matt Painter was on the team. Lavin then left Purdue to work under Jim Harrick at UCLA.

"He [Keady] was the first phone call I made just prior to my interview," Lavin said. "Throughout the process, he was someone I was thinking of as an ideal senior advisor to our staff."

Keady coached at Purdue from 1980-2005, reaching the postseason 22 times and winning six Big Ten titles. Keady worked as an analyst for the Big Ten Network after he retired from Purdue.

"I wanted that grandfather presence with our team," Lavin said. "Coach Keady has the energy, vitality and a great deal to offer us. The timing and the fit just seemed right."

Lavin, who worked for ESPN as an analyst the past seven years, said he always thought of hiring Keady if he were to get back into coaching.

"He's a Yankee fan and he loves New York," Lavin said. "When I was the UCLA coach, we even came to a few Yankee playoff games and [his late wife] Pat loved going to [Broadway] shows. I became the head coach of St. John's and it all just seemed right."

Andy Katz is a senior college basketball writer for ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/news/...id=5686861

With UConn's situation and Pitino's affair still affecting his ability with Louisville, the Big East is ripe for some also-rans to re-emerge. St. John's hiring of Lavin may have happened at the right time and they may rejuvenate themselves quickly with all the turmoil going on in the conference.

the hiring of Lavin is already paying off with recruiting also, #41,44 & 45 players in the rivals 150 for 2011.

(10-15-2010 07:10 AM)wanes Wrote: [ -> ]the hiring of Lavin is already paying off with recruiting also, #41,44 & 45 players in the rivals 150 for 2011.

That is impressive. Something else I remember about Keady, besides winning a ton, is that his program was ultra clean. Lavin is doing all of the smart things.

Lavin will be a recruiting beast there. It's a shame we didn't dump Mick earlier, he probaby would have come here.

St. John's has always been an attractive program. They just needed someone with Lavin's skill, both in terms of recruiting and personality, to build them back up. There's no question they're in the middle of a talent-rich area. I have little doubt that he'll have them becoming a solid program again in short order.

(10-15-2010 10:37 AM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote: [ -> ]St. John's has always been an attractive program. They just needed someone with Lavin's skill, both in terms of recruiting and personality, to build them back up. There's no question they're in the middle of a talent-rich area. I have little doubt that he'll have them becoming a solid program again in short order.

St John's was an attractive program for NYC kids until they built dorms on campus. That move was huge in hurting their ability to keep kids home.

Wow.

the best head of hair in coaching and the worst and the worst on the same staff.

(10-15-2010 02:08 PM)b Wrote: [ -> ]Wow.

the best head of hair in coaching and the worst and the worst on the same staff.

I didn't even think about that!

(10-15-2010 02:08 PM)b Wrote: [ -> ]Wow.

the best head of hair in coaching and the worst and the worst on the same staff.

I was thinking that NYC might be the only place that Keady can get a stylist to work their magic on his head. Either NYC or LA.