ETSU began the interview process for basketball’s vacant head coaching position Tuesday.
Georgia Tech assistant coach Dean Keener was interviewed on Tuesday, and University of Alabama-Birmingham head coach Murry Bartow had his day on Wednesday.
“We’re excited about having someone of Dean’s background interested in our program,” Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dave Mullins said. “He has obviously worked for some great coaches throughout the years and has come highly recommended by colleagues in the coaching business. Plus he is a proven recruiter.”
Keener has 15 years experience at the Division I level and spent the last three years on the Yellow Jacket’s sidelines. In that time he recruited the past two Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year winners. The Georgia Tech team went to both the NCAA and NIT tournaments.
As a graduate assistant at Drake University from 1988-90, Keener began his collegiate coaching career and quickly moved on the University of Southern California where he spent a season on the Trojan’s staff overseeing on-campus recruiting and the team’s summer basketball camps for coach George Raveling. From 1991 to 1995, Keener served as an assistant at Virginia Tech in many of the same roles he had at SoCal.
In 1995, Keener was in charge of nationwide recruiting at Southern Methodist University and in 1997 returned to Virginia Tech as the team’s nationwide recruiter and liasonto the compliance director. He then worked at James Madison during the 1999-2000 season with many of the same duties.
During the last three seasons, Keener coordinated nationwide recruiting and has helped direct all aspects a succesful program in the ACC for Paul Hewitt at Georgia Tech.
On Wednesday, UAB’s head coach Murry Bartow came to campus. Bartow compiled a 103-83 record from 1996-2002. He led the UAB squad to 48 Conference USA victories, second only to Cincinnati’s Bob Hughes.
The Blazers – who enjoyed 20 -win seasons twice under Bartow – also made three postseason appearances. In 1997 and ’98 UAB was invited to the NIT tournament and in 1999 the Blazers went to the NCAA tournament.
“I’m a proven head coach,” Bartow said. “I’ve had my share of losses but I’ve won some too. So I’ve got the experience.”
Bartow’s 103 wins were more than other programs, including Florida State, South Florida, Southern Mississippi and Georgia Tech. Bartow led the Blazers to wins over nationally recognized teams like Auburn, Florida, Marquette, Missouri, UNC-Charlotte, UNLV, Tulsa, Fresno State, Memphis and Louisville.
Bartow also has a family history of success in basketball. His father was former UCLA head coach Gene Bartow. The elder Bartow led the Bruins to a 52-9 record between 1975-77.
“What impresses me about Murry is his wealth of experience in the basketball profession,” Mullins said. “Having grown up in a highly-respected basketball enviroment, having worked for some of the most successful coaches in the business and having coached in one of the toughest leagues in the country and being successful – going head-to-head against Cincinnatti, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis and Tulane – is positive.”
Whoever ETSU selects to fill the coaching position will inherit a successful program with three returning freshmen that saw significant playing time last year in Tim Smith, Ben Rhoda and Brad Nuckles. Also returning for the Bucs, who finished 20-11, will be starters Zakee Wadood and Jerald Fields.
“Ed has done a great job building a solid base,” Bartow said. “Whoever gets this oppurtunity will be very fortunate.”
ETSU will interview Mercer University head coach Mark Slonaker today. Slonaker’s Bears went 6-23 last season. More interviews have been set up for the rest of the week.

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