Gene Keady

Who Is Gene Keady?

Gene Keady is an American Basketball coach best known for his 25 years serving as the head men’s basketball coach at Purdue University in Indiana. Gene Keady is of them one of the most popular sports and has its share of legends.

He is a former football player, and he transitioned to coaching basketball.

The American, who is well-regarded in the basketball world, established his imprint in the sport and has received various awards.

Furthermore, there isn’t a single basketball fan who isn’t aware of the Genes’ exploits.

More Facts About Gene Keady

Gene Keady | Childhood & Education

Lloyd Eugene Keady was born in Larned, Kansas, on May 21, 1936.

Although his parents’ names are not known, the American stated that his parents, particularly his father, were highly motivating figures in his life.

Despite his early enthusiasm, Keady determined that education came first.

So the aspiring sports legend enrolled at Kansas State University.

Gene earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Physical Education.

Keady, on the other hand, didn’t neglect to develop his football talents in high school and engaged in the sport whenever time allowed.

At the time, the Kansas native was gaining a lot of attention from his school and bigger teams.

Gene Keady | Height, Weight, and Stats

The American is currently 85 years old.

Although his height is being investigated, we may presume that Keady was at least 6 feet tall because he was an active sportsman and football at the time was based on a player’s height and body.

Similarly, no sites reveal his weight figures, although it appears Gene has put on a significant amount of weight at the time.

It demonstrates the Americans’ eagerness to learn as well as their versatility.

He has several years of success as a coach.

His 25-year coaching career at Purdue University is still vivid in the minds and recollections of Purdue alumni and competitor universities.

Gene Keady’s Football and Basketball Career

Gene was picked in the 19th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1958.

He did not, however, play for them. Keady was a former quarterback.

After retiring from football, the Kansas native accepted a coaching post at Beloit Junior-Senior High School.

As a coach, he saw the need for education and ongoing learning, therefore he earned a master’s degree while coaching.

In addition, as a football player, Keady had 142 wins and 47 losses ( 0.751).

He rose to prominence as a professional after coaching the Hutchinson Junior College basketball team.

The Blue Dragons won six championships after he took over as head coach as an assistant. Gene was named coach of the year three years in a row as a result.

Gene dominated the league with 187 wins and 48 losses (0.796) until stepping down as coach in 1974.

Gene accepted the post of assistant coach for Arkansas, which helped the squad dominate the NCAA Division.

Similarly, Americans’ recruiting abilities became highly regarded.

As the year 1978 arrived, Gene’s record of 94 wins and 24 losses ended (0.667).

Similarly, the Kansas native was in charge of Western Kentucky University. Gene’s team finished 1978 with a 17-11 win-loss record. Finally, Keady quit as coach in 1980, with a 50% victory percentage of 38 wins and 19 losses (0.667).

Life would then lead the American to a historical time at Purdue University.

After a 25-year illustrious career, he became a legend among opponents and colleagues.

For example, in his nearly two-and-a-half-decade career, Gene had the most wins in the institutions’ win records and was second in the Big Ten Conference in maximum gains with 493 victories.

During this time, Keady led the team to six Big Ten crowns, two Elite Eight appearances, five Sweet Sixteen appearances, and eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Keady accepted a lucrative opportunity to manage the Toronto Raptors as an assistant after an excellent career at Purdue.

With that, he wouldn’t return to St. John as an assistant for another four years before retiring from coaching in 2015.

Gene has a 550-289 win-loss record over the years. In 2013, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Naismith’s Outstanding Basketball Contribution (2004)

John R. Wooden Coaching Legends Award (2007)

Purdue University Athletic Hall of Fame (2010)

National Coach of the Year five times (1984, 1988, 1994, 1996, 2000)

Big Ten Coach of the Year seven times (1984, 1988, 1990, 1994–1996, 2000)

Hall of Fame for the NJCAA (1990)

Sports Hall of Fame in Kansas (2007)

Gene Keady’s Net Worth, Salary, and Earnings

According to rumors, the basketball coach’s net worth is between $1 million and $7 million.

It is understandable that Keady has such a large salary because he was a player in his childhood and by the time he was an old man, the Kansas native was already a coach and an assistant for prominent teams.

The great coach at Purdue University was paid a hefty $60k per year.

Gene worked in television and radio, so the position paid him an extra $40,000.

Similarly, numerous sponsors signed him in a deal that included a sizable incentive.

Quotes

I informed our players that this was our only chance to play an opponent of this magnitude this season.

It was up to them to capitalize on it.

I thought the comb-over looked great on me. Of course, it was hideous.

Gene Keady | Relationship, Wife, and Children

It was time for Gene to settle down after achieving tremendous success as a coach.

Keady met Patricia sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

They had an instant attraction to each other and were together for quite some time.

Gene asked Patricia to marry him when he was 45 years old.

After she said yes, the couple spent 28 years together and had three children.

Lisa, Dan, and Beverly were the marriage’s three gorgeous offspring.

Unfortunately, Keady’s euphoria was fleeting. Patricia died after a heart attack in 2006.

She was also battling cancer at the same time, and she died in 2009 as a result of her illness.

In addition, after three years of loneliness, Gene married Kathleen Petrie in 2012.

Also Read: Brad Zibung, Gillian Turner, Erika Dates

Gene Keady | Online Presence

On Facebook, the 83-year-old posts about his family and other sports-related topics.

Check it out if you want to stay up to date on his life and offer some appreciation to the legendary coach.