Keener gets approval from former co-workers

When Kenny Brooks and Dean Keener were assistant coaches together on the JMU men’s basketball team during the 1999-’00 season, the two became good friends. Occasionally, Brooks would stop by Keener’s office to chat where he’d have a little fun with his co-worker.

“I used to mess with him a lot,” Brooks recalled. “His office was always immaculate. When I would go in there, I would turn something around on purpose just to make it out of sorts a little bit. Without even blinking an eye, he was fixing it and turning it back around.”

Although the two have remained friends since Keener left JMU following that season, Brooks, now the JMU women’s basketball coach, can pick up where he left off with Keener returning to coach the men’s team.

But all joking aside, Brooks said Keener was the perfect fit for the Dukes.

“I’m very happy for him — very happy for the program and very happy for the school,” Brooks said. “He’s a fine person. I think if you give him a little bit of time, he’ll definitely turn the program around.”

Brooks isn’t the only person who thinks JMU made the right decision. Clemson University assistant Ben D’Allessandro, an assistant at JMU from 1999-’03, and former JMU player Ian Caskill (’03) also think Keener will do a great job taking over the reins.

“I think it’s absolutely tremendous for JMU,” D’Allessandro said. “I think they have a great person. I think he really has a passion for coaching the right way, and that’s wonderful in this day and age.”

Caskill said Keener has paid his dues as an assistant and was very happy to see Keener get the job.

“I know that a lot of people wanted a big-name guy, but I think that JMU made the right move in this situation,” he said. “I wanted to see someone who would be around a little while and build a good program.”

Even though Brooks and Keener only worked at JMU one season together, Brooks said he learned more from Keener than anyone else that he’s worked with, or worked for.

D’Allessandro said Keener has been a head coach in waiting for some time.

“I was extremely impressed working with him and learned a great deal from him,” D’Allessandro said. “I saw a budding head coach in the making.”

So what makes Keener such a great coach?

“He takes time to get to know you as a person no matter who you are,” Caskill said. “I think that fits in good to the JMU community. Coach Keener is a very upbeat and positive person who prides himself in working hard and he will instill that in his players.

“Coach Keener helped me a lot my freshman year,” Caskill added. “He used to work me out and he taught me a lot of things, including using my left hand and improving my free throw mechanics.”

Caskill said there is no doubt that Keener can move JMU into the right direction.

“I expect this to happen more sooner than later,” he said.