Rudy Keeling, Former UMaine Coach, Dies in Londonderry

Former University of Maine basketball coach Rudy Keeling died Saturday at his home in Londonderry, UMaine reported. He was 64.

Keeling, a father of four with his wife, Jane, was head coach at UMaine from 1988 to 1996. He earned North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1993-94, when he led UMaine to a school-record 20 wins. After his coaching in Maine, he was head coach for five seasons at Northeastern University. 

Maine head coach Ted Woodward, via UMaine's website, offered this statement:

"The Black Bear Men's Basketball program, and the entire UMaine community is deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Coach Keeling. He was an outstanding coach, a first-class person and representative of the University of Maine, and a beloved and highly respected member of the entire basketball coaching community. He touched many lives of young people here at Maine, was an outstanding example of character, integrity, and intelligence, and his influence has, and will continue to be felt throughout our great school and all of college athletics. It has always been an honor to follow in his footsteps at the University of Maine and the wonderful example he provided daily and throughout his career.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and to all the outstanding young men who had the tremendous opportunity to be coached and mentored by him."

A memorial service will be held on Friday at Peabody Funeral Homes in Londonderry. For more information, click here.