N.C. State Parts Ways With Basketball Coach Kevin Keatts After Eight Seasons

After eight seasons at the helm, Kevin Keatts’ tenure as the head coach of the N.C. State men’s basketball team has come to an end. The university announced the decision to move in a new direction on Sunday, concluding a chapter marked by both remarkable highs and disappointing lows. The move comes as a surprise to some, given the team’s improbable run to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and Final Four just last year. However, a dismal 2024-25 season, characterized by a 12-19 overall record, ultimately sealed Keatts’ fate.

Athletic director Boo Corrigan released a statement acknowledging Keatts’ contributions to the program, while also recognizing the unforgettable moments of the previous season’s NCAA tournament journey. "I want to thank Coach Keatts for his contributions to N.C. State and for always representing the university with class," Corrigan stated. "He will always have a treasured place in Wolfpack history for the accomplishments of his 2023-24 squad and I appreciate the passion he brought to this role. We wish him and his family the best in the future."

Keatts, in turn, expressed gratitude for his time in Raleigh, describing the past eight years as "a dream come true." In a social media post, he reflected on his tenure, stating, "As we enter this new era of college sports, I wholeheartedly believe that I am leaving the program in better position to succeed than when I started – and that the basketball program will continue to thrive when supported to the level necessary to compete."

During his eight seasons at N.C. State, Keatts amassed a 151-113 record, with a 69-84 mark in ACC play. His teams earned three NCAA Tournament berths, the most memorable of which was the recent Cinderella story. Last season’s Wolfpack team defied expectations, embarking on an improbable five-game winning streak in five days to capture the ACC Tournament title, their first since 1987. Riding that momentum, they continued their improbable journey to the Final Four, the program’s first appearance since the legendary Jim Valvano led the "Cardiac Pack" to the 1983 national championship.

However, the magic of that run proved unsustainable. This season witnessed a sharp decline, with the Wolfpack struggling to find consistency and cohesion. A revamped roster, assembled largely through the transfer portal – a strategy that had previously yielded positive results – failed to gel. The team’s struggles were particularly evident in conference play, where they managed just five wins in 20 games.

The decision to part ways with Keatts was undoubtedly a difficult one, given the successes of the recent past. However, the disappointing performance of this year’s team, coupled with the program’s overall trajectory, likely led university leadership to conclude that a change was necessary.

Keatts’ tenure at N.C. State was not without its challenges. He inherited a program that was in need of stability, both on and off the court. Furthermore, he had to navigate the shadow of a federal corruption investigation tied to the tenure of his predecessor, Mark Gottfried. That investigation lingered for years before the program was ultimately placed on a year of probation in December 2021.

Despite these challenges, Keatts managed to bring a measure of success to the program. He arrived in 2017, declaring in his introductory press conference that "Kevin Keatts is a winner." While his overall record may not reflect a consistent winning pedigree, he certainly elevated the program from the depths it had reached under Gottfried.

Keatts’ initial success was undeniable. He led the Wolfpack to a 21-win season in his first year, including impressive victories over highly ranked opponents such as Duke, UNC, and Arizona. That season culminated in an NCAA Tournament appearance, providing a glimmer of hope for the future.

The use of the transfer portal would ultimately become a staple of the Keatts’ era at N.C. State. While this strategy had some successes, it proved to be a double-edged sword. A key element to program building in the current era of college basketball, the transfer portal can also lead to a revolving door of players, hindering the development of team chemistry and long-term stability.

The 2023-24 season will undoubtedly be remembered as the high point of Keatts’ tenure. The improbable ACC Tournament title and the subsequent Final Four run captured the hearts of Wolfpack fans and brought national attention to the program. However, that success ultimately proved to be fleeting.

The decision to move on from Kevin Keatts represents a significant turning point for N.C. State basketball. The university will now embark on a search for a new head coach who can build on the foundation that Keatts established while also bringing a fresh vision and approach to the program. The next coach will face the challenge of navigating the complexities of modern college basketball, including the transfer portal, name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, and the ever-increasing pressure to win.

The future of N.C. State basketball remains uncertain. However, the university is committed to providing the necessary resources and support to ensure that the program can compete at the highest level. The search for a new head coach will be a crucial step in that process. As the Wolfpack faithful look ahead, they will be hoping for a leader who can bring sustained success and restore the program to its former glory.

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