Tim Keane is the new assistant football coach fordefensive backs at the University of Kentucky, head coach HalMumme has announced.
Keane is a 24-year veteran of collegiate coaching,including three in the Southeastern Conference.
“Tim brings a knowledge of the Southeastern Conferenceand a tremendous knowledge of our brand of the 4-3 defense,”Mumme said. “I’ve known Tim for a long time. He’s a naturalfit for our staff. He also has a reputation as a greatrecruiter.”
“I’ve wanted to work with Hal Mumme for quite awhilebecause he has a lot to offer,” Keane said. “He has thewinning edge and I want to be a part of his program.”
Keane comes to UK from Louisiana Tech, where he coachedthe defensive backs for the last three seasons. Keane helpeddevelop All-America cornerback Willie Smith, who led thenation in interceptions in 1995 and also was a two-year All-Big West selection. As a team, Tech improved from 3-8 to 5-6to 6-5 during Keane’s three campaigns.
Keane coached the secondary at Tennessee during the1990-92 seasons. Tennessee posted a 27-8-2 record duringthat time, won the 1990 SEC championship, and played in theSugar, Fiesta, and Hall of Fame Bowls. Safety Dale Carterwas consensus All-America in 1991 and a two-year All-SECchoice. Cornerback Jeremy Lincoln was a first-team All-SECpick in 1991 and both Lincoln and Carter are playing in theNational Football League. Keane also helped develop safetyJason Parker, who was named to the Freshman All-SEC team in1992.
Keane coached at his alma mater, Arkansas State, from1972-89. He began as the receivers and quarterbacks coach in1972 and moved to the secondary in 1974. He was defensivecoordinator from 1981-89.
Under Keane’s guidance as the coordinator, ArkansasState led Division I-AA in total defense in 1985. His 1988unit led Division I-AA in turnover ratio. Arkansas Stateadvanced to the I-AA playoffs from 1984-87 and finished asthe national runner-up in 1986. Six of his defensive backswent on to play in the National Football League.
It was at Arkansas State that Keane began hisassociation with Larry Lacewell. Lacewell, currently withthe Dallas Cowboys, created the daring, aggressive 4-3defensive system that will be the model for the UK defense.Keane was an assistant at ASU under head coach Lacewell from1979-89. Keane went to Tennessee with Lacewell, who wasdefensive coordinator for the Volunteers in 1990-91.
Keane was a three-year letterman at quarterback for ASUfrom 1965-67. Following his graduation in 1968, Keane beganhis coaching career at a pair of junior high schools. He wasan assistant football coach at North Little Rock (Ark.) HighSchool in 1970-71 before returning to Arkansas State. Heearned a master’s at ASU in 1973.
