Berks Catholic coach and PSFCA Hall of Fame member Rick Keeley

Rick Keeley has been a high school football head coach for 37 years and he still loves it.  "In order for things to work, you really gotta work together. One guy really can't carry you through a season. To see that group of kids work together to try to make something good happen, that's why I do it," he stated.  Keeley was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame prior to the Big 33 Classic on Sunday.  He has won 275 games and five District 3 championships over his career.  Keeley graduated from St. Pius X High School in Pottstown in 1971.  He went on to become a standout DL at Kutztown University.  Keeley started as an assistant at Holy Name in 1978 and took over the Blue Jays' football program in 1986.  In just his second season, Holy Name reached the District 3-A championship game.  The Blue Jays fell to Camp Hill 21-0 and then went (1-10) in 1988.  Keeley knew that it was time for a change.  He took his assistants to a coaching clinic at the University of Delaware to learn about the Wing-T offense in 1989.  The rest is history.  "I like that all eleven guys gotta make their blocks for a play to happen...With the Wing-T, I think it's more of a team thing. The way it all comes together is exciting for me to coach," said Keeley.  He spent 22 years at Holy Name and went (20-2) against rival Reading Central Catholic.  The Blue Jays won a District 3 title in 2010 which turned out to be their final season.  When Holy Name and Central Catholic merged, Keeley was named the head coach at Berks Catholic.  The Saints quickly became a powerhouse.  They reached the District 3 Final seven consecutive years and captured four championships.  Keeley is (113-35) in a dozen seasons at Berks Catholic.  He also spent three years as Hamburg's head coach.  SV Sports' Paul Roberts asked Keeley to compare current high school athletes to the ones that he worked with when he first started coaching.  Keeley replied, "The kids are bigger, faster and stronger...but kids today, they're no tougher than the kids that we've had over the years."  Keeley didn't say how much longer he plans on coaching, but he noted that he'll have a difficult time getting to football games when he does retire.  Keeley has four kids and 13 grandchildren who keep him busy.  He also likes to help his father who is still farming 80 acres at the age of 91.  The Saints were (5-6) a season ago, but Keeley is always optimistic.  He mentioned that the team has been working hard in the weight room.  Keeley's induction into the PSFCA Hall of Fame shows that good things happen to good people.