Rick Keeley retires as B.C. football coach

When Rick Keeley told his wife, Sharon, this week that he was retiring as Berks Catholic's head football coach, she didn't believe him.  That's understandable considering how long Keeley has been involved with the sport.  He turns 70 this Saturday, and 48 of those years have been spent coaching high school football.  Keeley is looking forward to spending more time with his family.  He's been married for 46 years.  They have four kids and 13 grandchildren.  Keeley also plans on helping his 91-year-old father who is still farming.  Family is very important to Keeley.  "You have to have a lot of support at home from your wife and your family, if you're gonna be in this coaching business. She has done nothing but support me for 48 years," Keeley told Paul Roberts of SV Sports.  After graduating from St. Pius X high school in 1971, Keeley went on to play nose guard at Kutztown University.  He was an all-conference selection as a junior and senior.  Keeley was named to the Golden Bears' all-decade team of the 1970's.  He spent two seasons as an assistant at St. Pius X before joining the Holy Name coaching staff in 1978.  The rest is history.  Keeley became the head coach of the Blue Jays in 1986 and spent 22 years at the helm.  He guided Holy Name to its first District 3 championship in 2010.  The Blue Jays defeated Millersburg 27-20.  Holy Name then merged with Reading Central Catholic to form Berks Catholic.  The Saints' football team, under Keeley's leadership, quickly became a powerhouse.  From 2012-2017, Berks Catholic went a staggering (72-9).  Keeley was (118-41) over 13 seasons with the Saints including a (19-5) mark in the District 3 playoffs.  The Saints made seven consecutive trips to the District 3 finals and won four titles.  In 38 years as a head coach, including three seasons at Hamburg, Keeley compiled a record of (280-160-3).  He said he'll miss the players the most.  "Being around them keeps you young. You like to see them interact, you like to see them listen, you like to see them learn, and you like to see them go on and be successful," he remarked.  Keeley was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in May.  He's also a member of the Berks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Holy Name Hall of Fame.  The Saints finished (5-6) the past two seasons.  Keeley will be rooting for the next head coach at Berks Catholic.  "I'm stepping down, but I'm still gonna be around. I love this place," he said.