Sport(s) Basketball 1988–1996 Maine Alma mater Quincy University 1986–1988 Marquette (asst.) Role Basketball Coach | 1980–1986 Bradley (asst.) Name Rudy Keeling 1977–1980 Bergan HS 1996–2001 Northeastern | |
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Born March 14, 1947 ( 1947-03-14 ) Died 2013, Londonderry, New Hampshire, United States | ||
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Harold Rudolph "Rudy" Keeling (March 14, 1947 – July 6, 2013) was an American college basketball coach and administrator. He was a Division I head basketball coach at the University of Maine and Northeastern University, before becoming Athletic Director at Emerson College and commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
Keeling attended Bishop Dubois High School and Quincy University, where he played basketball and graduated in 1970. In 1977, he began his coaching career as head coach of Bergan High School in Peoria, Illinois. In 1980, he was hired as an assistant at Bradley University by head coach Dick Versace. After a stint at Marquette, Keeling was named head coach at Maine in 1988 - the school's first African-American head coach. In eight seasons at Maine, he compiled a record of 106–122 and led the school to its first 20 win season. From there, Keeling was named head coach at Northeastern, where in five seasons he went 48–92.
In 2002, Keeling was named athletic director at Emerson College, where in his five years he added five varsity sports. In 2007, he left to become commissioner of the ECAC, the first African-American commissioner of a major conference.
Keeling died on July 6, 2013 in Londonderry, New Hampshire. His daughter is Kara Keeling, a film and gender studies academic. Other children include, Harold Keeling, David Keeling, Lisa Keeling, Christopher "Kip"Keeling, Tina Keeling, and Cory Keeling.
