Purdue legend Gene Keady to return to Mackey for Boilermakers’ alumni game

Cliff July 9, 2012 0

From Purdue Sports Information

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Legendary former Purdue head men’s basketball coach Gene Keady will once again stalk the Mackey Arena sidelines on Aug. 4 when he leads one of the teams in the Boilermakers’ inaugural alumni game.

Current Boilermaker head coach Matt Painter will head the other squad in the precursor to the 2012-13 Purdue team’s intrasquad scrimmage.

Aside from being one of the greatest to ever coach the game, Coach Keady has been a mentor to so many men who played for him at Purdue, Painter said. His name is synonymous with Purdue basketball and the culture that has been built. He’s a great man and we’re excited that he can be a part of this event.

The winningest coach in Purdue history, Keady led the Boilermakers to six Big Ten championships, including a Three-Pete from 1994-96. Purdue advanced to postseason play in 22 of his 25 seasons at the helm, making the NCAA Tournament 17 times.

Keady graduated nearly 90 percent of his players and Boilermakers were selected Academic All-Big Ten 41 times, including seven Academic All-America selections, during his tenure.

Keady was selected Big Ten Coach of the Year a record seven times and the nation’s top coach eight times in six different seasons. His record in international competition was equally impressive, as he led U.S. teams to two gold medals, a silver and a bronze, while establishing a sterling 22-2 (.917) record.

On Dec. 12, 1997, the Mackey Arena playing floor was renamed Keady Court to honor the Boilermaker coaching legend. His signature was added to the court in 2011 as part of a makeover of the playing surface.

Painter’s accomplishments at the helm of his alma mater’s program are further evidence of the indelible mark that Keady left on Purdue basketball and those who played for him.

In seven years as head coach, Painter has guided the Boilers to the 2009 Big Ten Tournament title and the 2010 Big Ten regular-season crown. Purdue has won at least 20 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last six seasons, reaching the Sweet 16 twice.

Purdue players have combined to garner 31 Academic All-Big Ten honors in Painter’s tenure, with former Boilermaker star and current Boston Celtics guard E’Twaun Moore receiving Academic All-America recognition in 2010. Every player recruited by Painter who completed his eligibility at Purdue has graduated or is still in school finishing his degree.

Painter won a gold medal as a Team USA assistant coach at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship in 2009. In 2011, he served as head coach of the U.S. Men’s World University Games Team in Shenzhen, China.

The alumni game is set to tip off at 2 p.m. ET on Aug. 4 at Mackey Arena. Among the fan favorites currently scheduled to participate are Brandon Brantley, Brian Cardinal, Tarrance Crump, Carson Cunningham, Todd Foster, Keaton Grant, Marcus Green, Matt Kiefer, Chris Kramer, Carl Landry, Troy Lewis, Kenneth Lowe, Todd Mitchell, Bobby Riddell, Ryne Smith, David Teague and Mark Wohlford.

Tickets went on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. ET today. Lower level (reserved) seats are available for $10, while upper level (general admission) tickets cost $5. A limited number of free tickets (one per student) will be available to Purdue students in the normal student sections.

Tickets may be purchased online at purduesports.com, by calling (800) 49-SPORT or in person at the Purdue Athletic Ticket Office. Located on the concourse level on the east side of Mackey Arena, the Athletic Ticket Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday (except holidays).