Tim Keeferthe first head coach in the history of Carlow University men’s basketball, has announced his retirement, effective June 30. Associate Head Coach Jacob Saint Georgea 2019 Carlow graduate who has served as the team’s assistant coach for the past four seasons, will take over as the program’s interim head coach.
“It was a great privilege and opportunity to work these past three years with Coach Keefer. His passion for the sport and his student-athletes is unmatched. He created an environment for his athletes to graduate and become successful, compassionate and responsible leaders,” said the athletic director. Luis Zadecky“He was well respected by staff and peers and always brought a positive attitude and encouragement to every situation. We will miss him and deeply appreciate all he gave to Carlow Athletics and the men’s basketball program and wish him all the best.”
Although Carlow has sponsored club basketball teams over the years, men’s basketball became the first official men’s varsity sport in 2014. This year, the Celtics plan to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the inaugural men’s basketball season during homecoming and throughout the year.
“We look forward to celebrating Coach Keefer’s incredible journey and unwavering dedication. His passion for the game and commitment to caring for his players shaped them into not just athletes, but extraordinary people,” said women’s basketball head coach, David Gordonwho served as an assistant to Keefer from 2014-2022. “I would like to thank Coach Keefer for the countless hours, wisdom and heart he invested in us. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide us long after the final buzzer. Enjoy this new chapter; you have more than earned it.”
Keefer earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education and began his career as a coach and educator at Boggs Avenue Elementary School in 1983.
His experience grew to include key positions throughout the Pittsburgh Public School System and Western Pennsylvania, including stints at Hempfield Area High School and Allegheny Middle School, and two decades as a coach at Oliver High School, where he also served as athletic director from 2009 to 2012.
Keefer also contributed to the success of students and athletic programs at the collegiate level. He helped transform the Penn State Greater Allegheny men’s basketball team from a two-year program to a four-year program, and under his leadership the Greater Allegheny Nittany Lions won the PSUAC basketball championship in 2006.
His volunteer coaching activities included a brief stint as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Seton Hill University. For more than two decades, Keefer lent his expertise to summer training camps in the Pittsburgh region, including work with ProCamps, the Urban Impact Youth Football Camp, and the National Youth Sports Program at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
“Tim Keefer did a fantastic job recruiting, retaining and graduating his student-athletes. He provided opportunities for many young men to earn a degree that they may not have had without basketball,” said former Carlow athletic director, George Sliman“He was a great collaborator and always cared about all the athletes in Carlow, not just his own. I was lucky to have worked with him and I wish him all the best in his retirement. He will be missed in Carlow.”
Keefer followed the guiding principle that academics should always come first for his players. His commitment to educating and inspiring the next generation of talented and committed student-athletes was an asset to Carlow Athletics’ continued academic success.
Under his direction, Keefer coached: three athletes on the Athletics Walk of Fame; one USCAA Student-Athlete of the Year (Hunter DeStefano, 2022); five USCAA All-Americans; 18 All-Conference Scholar-Athletes; nine USCAA Academic All-Americans; six NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes; and one College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® honoree (DeStefano, 2023).
Keefer also coached the university’s first 1,000-point scorer and two-time All-River States Conference honoree, Charlie Scharbo.
An avid supporter of community involvement and events, Keefer played a pivotal role in several Coaches vs. Cancer games as well as Carlow’s “Pink the Pavilion” events over the years.
“Coach Keefer has had a tremendous impact on my growth over the past 10 years as a player and coach. I have seen firsthand his impact on the Carlow community as well as his own,” said St. George. “One of my favorite things to tell people about Coach Keefer is that he knew someone everywhere we went. This shows how much he valued building relationships. I look forward to taking the lessons I have learned from him and helping the program move forward.”
https://athletics.carlow.edu/general/2023-24/releases/20240701n5pse2