COACHING ACCOLADES
- 2021 NCCAA West Region Coach of the Year
- 2022 NCCAA West Region Coach of the Year
- 2023 NCCAA National Coach of the Year
In six years as the head basketball coach at OUAZ, Matt Keeley has shown why he was the right person to be the first (and only) leader of this program. He was named the head coach of the Spirit men’s basketball program in April 2017 and ever since all OUAZ has accomplished is win back-to-back Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament titles (2022 & 2023), make two straight appearances in the NAIA National Championship Tournament and advance to the Final Round of 16, “Great 8” and the “Fab Four”. The Spirit also reached the NCCAA National Championship game (2021).
As head coach he has guided the Spirit to a 94-78 (.547) overall record, but more recently (last two years), his Spirit squads are 50-20 (.714) and became the first to post consecutive 25-win seasons. In postseason action (conference and NAIA tournaments), he is 13-3 (.813) record, including wins in seven of the last eight outings.
Postseason accolades have also become standard practice with three NCCAA All-Americans and three All-GSAC selections. Earned NCCAA National Coach of the Year honors in 2023 and was NCCAA West Region Coach of the Year in 2021 & 2022.
OUAZ (2017-present)
2022-23 proved to be another big step in the journey of the OUAZ program by ending the year 25-10 overall, 10-8 in the GSAC and winners of the conference postseason tournament. The 25 wins ties the school wins record, set one year prior. The team was the highest scoring team in the league and posted wins against No. 2-ranked Arizona Christian, No. 7-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan, No. 10-ranked Montana Tech and came one-point shy of knocking off No. 1-ranked College of Idaho in the NAIA National Semifinals.
In 2021-22, he guided the Spirit to its first-ever 25 win season (25-9 overall), which was also the first 20-win season for the program. The squad finished third in the GSAC with an 11-7 mark but went on to win the conference postseason tournament and earn the automatic invite to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. OUAZ then secured its first NAIA Championship win by defeating Tennessee Southern in the Opening Round.
In a 2020-21 year played in multiple segments due to COVID protocols, OUAZ took a big step towards the program's growth with a 13-6 overall record. The Spirit finished second in the GSAC East with a 6-4 conference record, and they recorded an upset of No. 9 The Master's along the way. OUAZ made its postseason debut at the NCCAA National Championship, where they advanced to the championship game.
The 2019-20 season saw the Spirit take its first step forward in its development with an 11-17 overall record. That included three wins over nationally-ranked opponents in the season's final two months. The team tied for seventh in the GSAC with a 6-12 record in league games. The success came from a team that was 13th in the NAIA in field goal percentage and 24th in scoring offense.
Transitioning to the NAIA and GSAC for the 2018-19 season proved difficult for the Spirit as they finished 5-23 overall and 2-16 in the conference. The offense showed potential at times by scoring 90-plus points six times.
Keeley directed the inaugural OUAZ men's basketball team to a 15-13 record during the 2017-18 season. The results featured wins over several NAIA powers in College of Idaho and Benedictine Mesa. The Spirit ran off nine straight victories late in the season.
MATT KEELEY HEAD COACHING RECORD
|
OVERALL |
CONFERENCE |
POSTSEASON |
| YEAR |
SCHOOL |
W |
L |
% |
W |
L |
% |
Finish |
W |
L |
Finish |
| 2017-18 |
OUAZ |
15 |
13 |
.536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2018-19 |
OUAZ |
5 |
23 |
.179 |
2 |
16 |
.111 |
10th |
|
|
|
| 2019-20 |
OUAZ |
11 |
17 |
.393 |
6 |
12 |
.333 |
t7th |
|
|
|
| 2020-21 |
OUAZ |
13 |
6 |
.684 |
6 |
4 |
.600 |
2nd |
2 |
1 |
NCCAA (Runner-Up) |
| 2021-22 |
OUAZ |
25 |
9 |
.735 |
11 |
7 |
.611 |
3rd |
1 |
1 |
NAIA (2nd Round) |
| 2022-23 |
OUAZ |
25 |
10 |
.714 |
10 |
8 |
.556 |
4th |
4 |
1 |
NAIA (Semi-Finalist) |
Assistant Coaching Career
MidAmerica Nazarene (2009-17): Keeley returned to MidAmerica Nazarene as an assistant coach under Rocky Lamar for the 2009-10 season. In eight seasons as an assistant with the Pioneers, MNU won 165 games and qualified for four NAIA National Championships with two runs to the Fab Four and another to the quarterfinals.
Washburn (2007-09): After working two years as a teacher and basketball coach at Manhattan High School (Kan.), Keeley moved to Washburn University as a full-time assistant coach. The Icabods would go 34-24 during his two seasons with the program.
MidAmerica Nazarene (2004-05): After graduating from MNU, Keeley spent one season as a graduate assistant with the Pioneers.
Playing Career (MidAmerica Nazarene)
As a player, Keeley was the starting point guard for Coach Lamar from 2000-2004. The Pioneers qualified for the national tournament in each of his four years, making two runs to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship and another to national runner-up in 2001. Keeley earned All-American honors his junior and senior years, leading the NAIA in assists as a senior. He was named the HAAC Player of the Year in 2004, a Champion of Character Award winner, and was an Academic All-American. He was elected to the MNU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Personal
Keeley earned his degree in secondary business education from MidAmerica Nazarene. Matt and his wife, Jana, a teacher, live in Surprise with their children: Cade, Reese, Cam, and Rylee.
