RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State Board of Governors approved Friday a new six-year contract for second-year men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts.
Keatts new term will run through the 2023-24 season. He originally signed a six-year agreement to become head coach of the Wolfpack in March 2017 and rolled over a year on his original contract by returning NC State to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season.
“My family and I are grateful to Chancellor Woodson and Debbie Yow for their commitment and for the opportunity to build on the foundation we’ve established here at NC State,” said Keatts. “The NC State community has been so welcoming. I’m excited about what we’re building and look forward to leading this program for many years to come.”
The new agreement for Keatts increases his compensation by $400,000, to $2.7M annually.
“Coach Keatts has made a profound and immediate impact at NC State, and this contract reflects our commitment to his continued leadership,” said Debbie Yow. “He values the academic success of his student-athletes, recruits at a high level, and runs his program with integrity. We’re excited for the future of NC State men’s basketball under Kevin’s leadership. “
In his first season with NC State, Keatts took a program preseason picked 12th in the ACC and led them to five wins over ranked opponents and a 11-7 record in the ACC to finish in a tie for third place. The 11 conference wins are the most for a first-year head coach in program history and the third place finish was the highest regular season finish for NC State in the ACC since the 2003-04 team finished second.
Keatts finished the regular season with 21 wins, tying him with legendary coach Everett Case for the most regular season wins by a first-year head coach in program history.
In his second season with NC State, Keatts has the Wolfpack off to a 8-1 start with seven of eight victories coming by 15+ points.
(Via Wolfpack Athletics)
