Paul Quinn College announced the newest members of the Quinnite Nation. Charles W. Keeley, III joins the College as the head men’s basketball coach. He will oversee the program with the help of John Franklin, the newly appointed assistant men’s basketball coach and junior varsity coach.
The change in leadership promises to keep the athletic program moving in a positive direction, and is in line with the College’s dedication to recruit, retain, develop, and produce student-athletes who will strive to achieve in the classroom and on the playing field.
“While the men’s basketball team experienced a successful season on the court, the institution had grave concerns about the former leadership’s ability to support the College’s mission of transforming students into servant leaders both on and off the court,” said Paul Quinn College President Michael J. Sorrell. “We are dedicated to building an athletic program that will compete for national championships and produce graduates who will become doctors, lawyers and business leaders. We now feel as if we have the coaches in place that will allow us to accomplish these goals.”
Keeley comes to PQC after spending three years as the assistant head coach at Cedar Valley College. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Florida A&M University. He also has a Master of Science degree in sports coaching from the United States Sports Academy and is a doctoral candidate at the same institution. Keeley is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Black Coaches & Administrators, the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
“This is a humbling and exciting experience for me,” Keeley said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of molding these young men into professionals on and off the court. We have a long road ahead of us, but I’m confident that we are assembling a team that can bring Paul Quinn College its first NAIA men’s basketball national championship.”
Prior to Keeley’s arrival, the Paul Quinn College Tigers finished the 2010 – 2011 season ranked fourth in the NAIA Red River Conference with a 15 – 7 record, and a 21 – 11 overall record.
Keeley will be assisted by Franklin, who comes to the College after a highly successful stint as the assistant coach for the boys’ varsity team and head coach for the boys’ junior varsity team at Episcopal School of Dallas. Franklin received his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from the University of North Texas, where he lettered in basketball as a member of the men’s basketball team.
