MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University Director of Athletics Andy Peterson has selected Matt Keeley as the 21st head men’s basketball coach in program history.
Bearcat Athletics will schedule a press conference in the near future to formally announce Keeley as the new head coach.
“I’m very confident in bringing Coach Keeley on board to lead our men’s basketball program,” Peterson said in a news release from Northwest. “I’ve known him for a long time having scrimmaged, coached, and recruited against him over the years and know who he is as a person and a competitor.”
“He will be an asset to our program, our department, our institution and our community. I can’t wait to get started working with him in this next evolution of Bearcat men’s basketball.”
Keeley, a native of Great Bend, Kan., has served as a head coach at Ottawa University Arizona for the past seven seasons. He has posted a head coaching mark of 113-89. He was named the 2023 NCCAA National Coach of the Year.
He guided the Spirit to three consecutive national tournament appearances including a national runner-up finish in 2021 and a spot in the 2023 Fab Four. Keeley secured back-to-back GSAC tournament championships during his time in Surprise, Ariz.
“I am so excited and equally honored to join the Northwest Missouri State program as the next men’s basketball coach,” Keeley said. “Being on campus you quickly realize that Northwest is a truly special place whose biggest asset is its amazing people. My family and I can’t wait to work alongside all the Bearcat family in the local community and beyond to continue the program’s success.”
“Thank you to President Lance Tatum and Athletic Director Andy Peterson for allowing me the opportunity to carry on the tradition that is Northwest Missouri State basketball.”
Before embarking on creating a new program in Arizona, Keeley was an assistant coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University from 2009-17 under head coach Rocky Lamar. Keeley was also a graduate assistant coach at MNU in the 2004-05 season.
Keeley is no stranger to the MIAA as he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Washburn University for head coach Bob Chipman in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
