JMU hires Dean Keener to be the new basketball coach

Dean Keener was named JMUâs menâs basketball coach Thursday night.

Keener, an assistant coach with Georgia Tech, currently is in San Antonio, where the Yellow Jackets are in the Final Four. Georgia Tech will face Oklahoma State University Saturday.

Keener agreed to a five-year contract that will pay an annual base salary of $160,000, with additional $35,000 for radio and television. He replaces Sherman Dillard, who resigned under pressure March 7.

ãItâs with great pride that I represent James Madison University as its menâs head basketball coach,ä Keener said in a press release Thursday night. ãI understand the culture and values and the great winning tradition of the menâs program. It is indeed a dream come true for me and my family to join the Dukes.ä

A press conference to introduce Keener is scheduled for next Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

ãDean Keener is an outstanding fit for the criteria weâve been seeking in a coach for our basketball program,ä Athletic Director Jeff Bourne said in a printed statement Thursday night.

Keener is in his fourth season with Georgia Tech. He was an assistant coach under Dillard at JMU during the 1999-â00 season. Before his brief stint with the Dukes, he was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech (1991-â95, 1997-â99), Southern Methodist University (1995-â97) and University of Southern California (1990-â91).

ãDeanâs had the good fortune of being able to mentor with and have peers who have done extremely well in this industry,ä Bourne stated. ãWith his prior experience at JMU and his strong connections throughout the state of Virginia I think he makes an excellent choice.ä

Keener, 38, graduated from Davidson College in 1988, where he serves as the team captain, and he was a member of the 1986 NCAA Tournament team.

Keener is married to his wife, Meg, and the couple has two children, a daughter named Julie and a son named Kyle.

ãWeâre proud and pleased to welcome Dean Keener back to the James Madison University family,ä JMU president Linwood Rose said in a statement Thursday. ãHe knows our University and is an outstanding individual who has demonstrated a high level of coaching and recruiting skills at a number of top-level basketball programs. We look forward to his leading the JMU Dukes to new levels of excellence and regenerating the enthusiasm of our fans.ä

See Doherty declines, Keener accepts for a related article about JMU's coaching search.