Keatts Ready to get to work
3/19/2017 4:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Pack's new head coach met with the media for the first time Sunday
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State men's basketball introduced Kevin Keatts as its new head coach Sunday afternoon, and Keatts gave a glimpse into the winning culture he plans to instill into the program.
Coming off a three-year run in which he led UNC-Wilmington to a trio of Colonial Athletic Association regular season titles, Keatts indoctrinated a combination of strategic principles and character philosophies to play by.
"We have a unique style. We're up-tempo, running, we take a lot of threes, we pressure a lot," Keatts said. "We were the only team to make (Virginia) play fast. It's going to be an unbelievable system that everyone is going to love. Recruits love to play in it.
He continued: "I think you will love our system. If you don't, come see me in a month and I'll take you out to dinner."
However, building a winning culture goes far beyond the X's and O's for a Keatts-led squad. It boils down to the team's selflessness.
"I want our identity to be we play extremely hard. We're winning every 50-50 ball. Our guys are going to dive on the floor, they're going to take charges, they're going to play so hard," Keatts said. "If you play for the front of the jersey, which is NC State, then the back will get credit."
When it comes to success, Keatts doesn't settle. Since being picked as ninth out of 10 teams in the CAA's preseason polls in 2014-2015, Keatts has won 18, 25 and 29 games each season since, making two NCAA Tournament appearances.
"All I'm thinking about is 'What can we do to get better?'" Keatts said.
To achieve that kind of continuous improvement, Keatts personally took the lead in seeing each member of his roster develop.
"I'm involved with the individual drills," he said. "I don't pass along to my assistants."
That was one of many attributes that caught the eye of NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow when she interviewed Keatts on Friday.
"He said to me right off the bat, 'I'm going to take the lead in player development,'" Yow said. "It's rare we find this level of a fit in this day in age."
Being new to the staff, Keatts made sure it was clear he wasn't unfamiliar with the program's illustrious history.
"Growing up in Virginia, I became a huge NC State fan, not a Virginia fan, not a Virginia Tech fan, but an NC state fan," Keatts said. "When you think about NC State, I want you to think of a lot of great things about NC State. I want you to think about the great tradition."
To Keatts, creating a winning culture means placing an innovative product on the court, but also staying true to the program's roots. Keatts watched the film "Survive and Advance" about NC State's 1983 National Championship team to remind himself of what those are.
"When you talk about a group of guys that weren't that talented, when you talk about a group that was so close, when you talk about a team that had a winning attitude, that's what NC State basketball is about," he said. "That's what I want to bring back."
With a 72-28 record at UNCW, a 2013 NCAA Championship ring with Louisville and a 93.9 winning percentage at Hargrave Military Academy, one of the most prestigious prep schools in the nation, Keatts' winning pedigree on paper speaks for itself.
And he knows it, too.
"Understand one thing: Kevin Keatts is a winner, and I've always been one," he said. "We will be champions again; I promise you that."
By: Ian Pierno, @IanPierno
Coming off a three-year run in which he led UNC-Wilmington to a trio of Colonial Athletic Association regular season titles, Keatts indoctrinated a combination of strategic principles and character philosophies to play by.
"We have a unique style. We're up-tempo, running, we take a lot of threes, we pressure a lot," Keatts said. "We were the only team to make (Virginia) play fast. It's going to be an unbelievable system that everyone is going to love. Recruits love to play in it.
He continued: "I think you will love our system. If you don't, come see me in a month and I'll take you out to dinner."
However, building a winning culture goes far beyond the X's and O's for a Keatts-led squad. It boils down to the team's selflessness.
"I want our identity to be we play extremely hard. We're winning every 50-50 ball. Our guys are going to dive on the floor, they're going to take charges, they're going to play so hard," Keatts said. "If you play for the front of the jersey, which is NC State, then the back will get credit."
When it comes to success, Keatts doesn't settle. Since being picked as ninth out of 10 teams in the CAA's preseason polls in 2014-2015, Keatts has won 18, 25 and 29 games each season since, making two NCAA Tournament appearances.
"All I'm thinking about is 'What can we do to get better?'" Keatts said.
To achieve that kind of continuous improvement, Keatts personally took the lead in seeing each member of his roster develop.
"I'm involved with the individual drills," he said. "I don't pass along to my assistants."
That was one of many attributes that caught the eye of NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow when she interviewed Keatts on Friday.
"He said to me right off the bat, 'I'm going to take the lead in player development,'" Yow said. "It's rare we find this level of a fit in this day in age."
Being new to the staff, Keatts made sure it was clear he wasn't unfamiliar with the program's illustrious history.
"Growing up in Virginia, I became a huge NC State fan, not a Virginia fan, not a Virginia Tech fan, but an NC state fan," Keatts said. "When you think about NC State, I want you to think of a lot of great things about NC State. I want you to think about the great tradition."
To Keatts, creating a winning culture means placing an innovative product on the court, but also staying true to the program's roots. Keatts watched the film "Survive and Advance" about NC State's 1983 National Championship team to remind himself of what those are.
"When you talk about a group of guys that weren't that talented, when you talk about a group that was so close, when you talk about a team that had a winning attitude, that's what NC State basketball is about," he said. "That's what I want to bring back."
With a 72-28 record at UNCW, a 2013 NCAA Championship ring with Louisville and a 93.9 winning percentage at Hargrave Military Academy, one of the most prestigious prep schools in the nation, Keatts' winning pedigree on paper speaks for itself.
And he knows it, too.
"Understand one thing: Kevin Keatts is a winner, and I've always been one," he said. "We will be champions again; I promise you that."
By: Ian Pierno, @IanPierno
Will Wade Press Conference (Sept, 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22
Will Wade Summer Press Conference
Wednesday, July 09
Will Wade on ACC PM
Wednesday, May 14
Coach Will Wade Chats with Matt Chazanow and Jeff Gravley
Wednesday, March 26