By Brian Murphy and Louis Fernandez, WRAL

Raleigh, N.C. — Kevin Keatts, who led NC State to its first Final Four in four decades just a year ago, is out as the Wolfpack’s men’s basketball coach after a dreadful season in which the program failed to qualify for the ACC Tournament and did not win a single road game.

Keatts, who coached the team for eight years, was fired with five years remaining on his contract. He is owed at least $6.75 million.

“As we enter this new era of college sports, I wholeheartedly believe that I am leaving the program in better position to succeed than when I started — and that the basketball program will continue to thrive when supported to the level necessary to compete,” Keatts said in a statement posted to social media.

Keatts often blamed the lack of resources for his program’s failure to build upon last year’s Final Four appearance. The Wolfpack won five games in five days to claim the ACC Tournament in 2024, an unprecedented run, to caputre its first conference title since 1987.

And then the Wolfpack won four more games in the NCAA Tournament — a nine-game winning streak that likely saved Keatts’ job last year. The 11th-seeded Wolfpack defeated rival Duke in the Elite Eight to secure its spot in the Final Four before losing in the national semifinal to Purdue. It was NC State’s first ACC Tournament title since 1987.

The senior-laden Wolfpack went 12-19 this season, including 5-15 in the ACC. NC State blew a late lead in a loss at last-place Miami on Saturday, ending the season 0-11 in road games. NC State tied a program record with a nine-game losing streak in conference play.

“The landscape has changed around us,” Keatts said last month. “If you went to the Final Four, if you won the ACC, you could get any player. Not any player, but most of the players you wanted because of that. But when you add the NIL part to it, none of that matters because you can flip a team just like that.

“The disappointment is if we didn’t have NIL like it is now, hell, we might have a different group of guys because of the fact that they’re coming just because they want an education, they want a chance to play at NC State, they want to play in our style. But now it’s not about that. It’s about what can you provide financially. And I get it. This is not a rant to say I’m against NIL.”

Keatts, who previously coached at UNC-Wilmington, was 151-113 overall and 69-84 in ACC play at NC State, which qualified for three NCAA Tournaments in his tenure. NC State (2017, 2023 and 2024).

“I want to thank Coach Keatts for his contributions to NC State and for always representing the university with class,” NC State athletics director Boo Corrigan in a statement. “He will always have a treasured place in Wolfpack history for the accomplishments of his 2023-24 squad and I appreciate the passion he brought to this role. We wish him and his family the best in the future.”

Keatts coached with the Wolfpack for eight seasons. He posted posted an overall record of 151-113, finishing 69-84 in ACC play. NC State went to the NCAA Tournament three times during his tenure. The program dealt with NCAA sanctions from violations that occurred under previous coach Mark Gottfried.

“He’s a great coach,” NC State senior Breon Pass said earlier this week after the Wolfpack defeated Pitt in its final home game. “He’s a winner. Regardless of what we’re going through right now, he makes sure we’re in the right set of mind, even after basketball ends. There’s more than basketball with him.”

The Final Four appearance added two additional seasons onto Keatts’ deal, pushing it through the 2029-30 season. He made $1.35 million in base pay and $1.95 million in supplemental pay in 2024-25. His supplemental pay had risen $600,000 over the last two years thanks to the NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024.

The move was made as NC State is nearing the end of its search for a new chancellor with longtime Chancellor Randy Woodson retiring at the end of June.

Corrigan was hired in 2019. He did not hire Keatts nor has he hired any of the Wolfpack’s current head coaches in major sports (football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball or baseball).

Corrigan’s department has been searching for additional revenue with athletic departments soon to be able to share up to $20 million directly with athletes. The school just endowed its athletic director position with a $5 million donation and is attempting to sell naming rights to Carter-Finley Stadium.

Attendance at Lenovo Center for the final basketball games of the season was dismal.

There is urgency to hire a new coach quickly. The transfer portal window opens March 24. Miami has already hired Duke assistant Jai Lucas as its next coach. Lucas will start at Miami on Monday, leaving the Blue Devils before the ACC or NCAA Tournaments.

“The last eight years have been a dream come true, and I will always cherish my time being a part of the Raleigh community,” Keatts said in a statement after the announcement.

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— Kevin Keatts (@CoachKeattsNCSU) March 9, 2025

Source: wralsportsfan.com