Keatts and his family ready for move to Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. – On the basketball court and the recruiting circuit, Kevin Keatts is "Coach Keatts." At home, he's simply "Dad." Both positions provide their own challenges and require unique skill sets for the newly appointed NC State men's basketball head coach—but when Keatts, 44, decided to take the NC State job on March 17, he had to become "Coach Dad" for the evening.

His two sons – Kaden, 8, and K.J., 13 – had already read the news that they'd be moving from Wilmington, N.C., where Keatts had led UNC-Wilmington men's basketball for the previous three years, to Raleigh.

They had mixed feelings.

"Coach Dad" had to go into full effect.

"Both of those guys looked really, really sad,'" Keatts said. "So, I went into full recruiting mode. I thought, 'How can I sell a 13-year-old and an 8-year-old to come to Raleigh?'"

It didn't take long for Keatts to rack his brain for selling points.

"So, I started talking about national championships, I started talking about PNC Arena and going to play there, I started talking about the Dail Center, I talked about the tradition and I started showing them pictures," Keatts said. "They went to their mom and came back to me in the kitchen, and said, 'Coach, I'll tell you what, I'm ready to commit to NC State.'"

As easy as it was to convince the family to move from Louisville to UNCW in 2014 – Keatts noted that Wilmington's beaches made it a cinch sell – it was even more clear of a decision to make the move to Raleigh.

"I was really excited because, you know, we've moved so many times and it's a great opportunity to come here," K.J., an avid basketball player and fan, said. "I can be more experienced when I play and see more about basketball (at PNC Arena)."

Keatt's wife, Georgette, described her initial reaction to her husband's job offer.

"Oh my goodness. It was a shock, but it was a wonderful opportunity and I knew that it was something that was attainable and something he's able and well-equipped to do," she said.

Not only did it make sense professionally, but it made sense for the Keatts quartet. Being only an hour and 45 minutes from their hometown of Lynchburg, Va., extended family can come out to support Keatts at home games—the family that was already in full force, smiles beaming, when Keatts was introduced to the media for the first time Sunday at Reynolds Coliseum.

There was one more holdout, though. Kaden, as any 8-year-old would, still had concerns: What would happen to his friends in Wilmington?

Georgette realized the Wolfpack's state-wide footprint, and Kaden was sold on the move.

"I was telling him that half of his friends that were in Wilmington were either alumni of NC State or their parents were," she said, "they were like 'We're going to see you anyways' so it was easy, it'll be an easy transition."

When Keatts says "We're not going to settle for recruits, we're going for the best recruits in the country," it's hard not to believe him. After all, he's already gotten the most crucial commits he needs.

By Ian Pierno (@IanPierno)

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