Keating's stepping stone?
By Chris Furnari
As I walked through Benson Monday evening, I couldn't help but stop and watch the end of a highlight reel for the men's basketball banquet in the California Mission Room. Dunks, drives and deep 3-point shots lit up the screen, but there was one lasting image that stuck with me as I walked home.
While a video of former Head Coach Dick Davey played, Santa Clara radio announcer Dave Lewis said, "There may never be a man quite like you to ever pass through Santa Clara again."
Perhaps he is right. I don't think anybody could pull off an argyle sweater quite like Davey. Not only is Kerry Keating nearly half Davey's age, he is also known to be one of college basketballs finest dressers. No knock to the sweater, but a younger, more stylish look is somewhat refreshing.
However, looks only go so far in the world of sports. Eventually it all comes down to winning. It is here where we find more differences between the past and the present. Davey is the second winningest WCC coach of all time. Keating has yet to call a single play as a head coach.
Davey coached the Broncos for 15 years, while Keating has been at the helm for less than a month. But, win or lose, Keating won't come close to matching Davey's 15-year tenure at Santa Clara.
It is safe to assume that this will not be Keating's final stop as a head coach. As I mentioned above, it all comes down to winning. Winning is something Keating is familiar with. At UCLA, he helped lead the Bruins to two Final Four appearances.
If Keating wins and makes a couple of NCAA bids during his six-year contract with Santa Clara, he will likely climb up the ranks among top Division I college coaches, moving onto a more prestigious basketball program. Santa Clara would serve as a stepping stone for a much bigger and more lucrative coaching position and contract.
If Keating fails to take the Broncos to the big dance, don't expect Santa Clara to throw any more money at him and offer a contract extension.
In either case, I only give Keating a maximum of six years at Santa Clara, the length of his contract. If he experiences some early success, he could make his exit sooner than everyone thinks.
Davey and Keating may also differ on another level: allegiance. Do I think Keating was a good hire? Yes. Do I expect him to succeed? Yes. I just have a very difficult time believing that Keating is here to build a program that will one day cut down the nets -- a scene to which he has become accustomed.