NC State’s Kevin Keatts has ‘earned the right’ to coach Wolfpack next season, AD says
N.C. State men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts will return next season, according to the one person who has control over the situation.
In an exclusive interview with The News & Observer, N.C. State athletic director Boo Corrigan affirmed Wednesday that Keatts, whose team is embroiled in one of its worst seasons in program history, has “earned the right” to coach the team going forward.
“The play will come,” Corrigan said. “I believe in what Kevin is and who Kevin is from a basketball coaching standpoint and I think he’s earned the right to (coach).”
Nearing the end of the final week of the regular season, the Wolfpack could lose 20 games for the first time ever. N.C. State will then head to Brooklyn for the ACC tournament, where it will play on opening day.
The Wolfpack only won one ACC game at home this year, and dropped non-conference games to Richmond and Wright State. Attendance at PNC has been atrocious, with the red cloth on the seats replacing red shirts normally worn by fans.
While revenue sports like football and women’s basketball are thriving at N.C. State, the men’s basketball team has been a disappointment. Corrigan, though, despite some fans calling for Keatts to be fired, stands firm on his decision.
“With everything that’s gone on since he’s been here,” Corrigan said. “With the NCAA and the injuries, it’s not an excuse, but I think the way he’s performed across the board — academically and socially, and what he’s done with the program, increasing graduation rates — that needs to be considered.”
N.C. State was under an NCAA cloud when Keatts arrived in 2017. That cloud was lifted in December when the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) ruled that the school would have to vacate wins from the 2016-17 season, but would not have any postseason bans.
Injuries this season included losing center Manny Bates, the Pack’s best post player, less than one minute into the season. Freshman forward Ernest Ross went down with a foot injury in January and transfer Greg Gantt never saw action at all.
Corrigan is confident that Keatts, with four years remaining on his contract, will right the ship.
“We’ve had guys here for four and five years,” Corrigan said. “I want to try continuity and see what that looks like and be able to judge at that point.”
Herb Sendek spent 10 years at N.C. State and left after five straight trips to the NCAA tournament. Sidney Lowe was around for five years with zero trips to the NCAA tournament. Mark Gottfried coached for six years, with no tournament trips in his last two seasons.
Keatts has led the Pack to the postseason three times. It appeared they were heading to the NCAA tournament in 2020 before COVID shut down college basketball.
N.C. State went 14-11 a year ago, 9-8 in the ACC, and lost in the first round of the ACC tournament. The Wolfpack advanced to the NIT quarterfinals before losing to Colorado State.
Regardless of what happens in Brooklyn, Corrigan won’t look to make a change this off season.
“No,” Corrigan said. “Nothing is changing in my eyes.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 2:24 PM with the headline "NC State’s Kevin Keatts has ‘earned the right’ to coach Wolfpack next season, AD says."
