First coach in new modern era to go to final four and then not qualify for a conf tournament the next season
This...Kevin Keatts
- Thread starter NYShoreGuy
- Start date
After the team's charmed run to the national semifinals as an 11-seed in 2024, Keatts' contract automatically triggered for a two-year extension that put him through the 2029-30 season. With a sub-par Final Four follow-up, NC State will now pay Keatts nearly $8 million to buy him out of that deal.
He beat North Carolina (RJ Davis and Bacot), Marquette (Tyler Kolek, Cam Jones, and Ighodaro), and Duke (Filipowski and McCain) to reach the Final Four. You'd think that kind of run would get you at least 5 years of job security at a place like NC State.
Early x reaction is that the fanbase and boosters set it up because they had a low ceiling for roster build this season
They wanted him gone last year, but the improbable run ended that. It really is the same thing at Clemson. If Brownell did not wiln the first round game, he was going to be fired. He then turned it into a run to the Elite 8, and is having a good year this year.
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This is the opposite of case in point Missouri .
How you can fall mightily in one year in this current environment. Pirate fans can attest to that...
How you can fall mightily in one year in this current environment. Pirate fans can attest to that...
NC State's run last year was the fluke of all flukes. It started even before the NCAA, in the ACC tournament. An absolute joke.
I think this one was bigger. St. Peter's is #2 in my eyes.
They were 17-14 (9-11) entering the ACC tournament. Upset Duke, had an absolute miracle to beat Virginia, and beat UNC. They had to win all three of those games just to get to the tournament. Then they get an 11-seed, beat 6-Texas Tech, Oakland in OT, and then 2-Marquette and 4-Duke. Completely unheard of.
Keatts has an above average CAR imho coach above replacement...his best finish with nc state was 17-18 when shu got them in first round...had a short but good stint with unc wilmington and before that was on later pitino staffs at ville which had the vacated title and did hargrave academy. He will get a shot or get an assitant role if he wishea
I'm not sure I understand the Will Wade love, but it does seem like NC State knew someone in particular (I assume Wade) would take the job. Absent some kind of misconduct, there's really no other reason to dump Keatts and eat that money.
Will Wade pre NIL...dangerous to sport...Will Wade post NIL...your contract will get you into the most prestigious country clubs in NC and our commitment will equal duke and unc
What don’t you understand? The guy can flat out coach. Hes never had a losing season. Only 3 out of his 11 seasons as a head coach he’s had less than 20 wins (18,18,19). And he’s done it at a high level
His success has mostly been predicated on having superior players. He's rolling a low major conference with a high major roster. McNeese has like 4 guys who would be our best player. At LSU, he was buying kids like Naz Reid and J'Vonte Smart. With level resources, will he be a better coach than Kevin Keatts? I'm not so sure.
Will wade was the only guy in the SEC buying players Or the only guy dumb enough to get caught?
I assume he wasn't the only one buying players, but he had some loaded teams at LSU. I'm always a bit cautious of the coaches who win because of superior talent. Especially in this day and age when recruiting is purely a question of dollars and cents.
