Paul M. Banks
Current Big Ten analyst Gene Keady is a former basketball coach and NFL quarterback. That’s right, Keady was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 19th round with the 223rd pick overall in 1958. However, he’s most notable for being the head basketball coach at Purdue University from 1980 to 2005 and his famous combover hairstyle.
Keady became the winningest coach in Purdue history with 265 victories and second winningest in Big Ten history, behind only Bob Knight, and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year seven times. He was also National Coach of the Year six times in a sixteen year timescale from 1984 to 2000.
Keady hired former Purdue guard, Matt Painter (1989-1993), as his associate head coach for the 2004-2005 season. He was later selected to take over the head coaching position.
Keady retired from coaching after leading the school to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. Mackey Arena’s basketball court was named “Keady Court” in dedication. In October of 2006 Keady was named the recipient of the 2007 John R. Wooden “Legends of Coaching” Award. Keady won a Gold Medal in the 2000 Olympic Games as an assistant coach for Dream Team III. Keady’s national teams won a total of 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals with a 22-2 record.
Paul M. Banks: So your Baby Boilers are grown up now and went on a run this past March. I know you attend the games regularly, what do you think of them?
Gene Keady: “I know we picked the right guy in Matt Painter. I’m really proud of the job he’s done. His teams play smart, they play hard and they play together. Now the pressure’s going to be on them, they’re going to be ranked in the top ten and people will expect them to move up to the next level. I think they really need to get a couple young kids to come in next year so that they have good depth.”
PMB: Tell me about why the word student comes first in the phrase student-athlete…
GK: “That’s why you go to school, to get your degree, get an education, the trouble is at a lot of schools they don’t put the student first, that’s one of the hypocritical things about it, but in the places that really count, like the Big Ten, it does come first and that’s one thing I’ve always been proud of: the Big Ten really stresses academics and graduates most of their kids.”
PMB: So what would you tell the cynical fan of the game who thinks education doesn’t truly get emphasized in the college basketball world?
GK: “I’d tell them to look up their facts. There is just certain schools that have a reputation. They want to win first and get really good athletes and don’t graduate them and that’s a shame, and the president shouldn’t allow that to happen. They should get rid of the coach or start a new philosophy.” 
PMB: Are you proud to see so many members of your coaching tree involved with the NABC, doing good works, moving up the ranks?
GK: “I know Bruce {Weber} is going to do it right, he’s always done it right, he teaches integrity, sportsmanship, does the right thing for the players, teaches kids the fundamentals and how to play the game right.”
PMB: So how are you enjoying your second career, being in the media sector of the sports business?
GK: “I’m having a lot of fun, I’m working with great guys, I’ve got a great boss and it’s been fun and the Big Ten is special to me because I’ve spent so many years in it, kind of weird because I never thought I’d be a good media person, but I’m really enjoying it.”
PMB: Kind of came natural from all your years at press conferences and having the spotlight on you?
GK: “Yeah, they do stuff in the studio where I know more about certain things and they put me on the spot. And I never will downgrade coaches unless they do something I don’t think is right. I try to help promote coaches.”
PMB: What can you say about Jerry Colangelo, the man that all of this is for. He may not be a Purdue guy, but it must feel good that he’s at least a Big Ten guy who’s becoming the first Court of Honor recipient?
GK: “He’s a person that people can look up to on how to do things right if you get an education at a great school like Illinois and you work hard. He really has done a good job helping the hall of fame and promoting the NBA. He’s a guy that young executives should look up to.”
PMB: How does it feel to be among the basketball royalty who are involved with this event?
GK: “You’ll feel that you really helped the game of basketball, especially through reading and trying to promote the game and have integrity, which is really important to young coaches; and I’m just happy they invited me.”