Keys Named New Head Football Coach

FINDLAY, Ohio – The University of Findlay has chosen Rob Keys, former co-defensive coordinator and special teams coach for the Oilers from 2000-04, to lead its football team in 2011 and beyond. The hiring was announced by UF Director of Athletics, Steven Rackley, on Thursday, December 16.

"We are very excited to announce that Coach Keys has accepted the challenge of leading our football program," said Rackley. "Following an extensive search, we found the man to lead our program, one that knows Findlay and what needs to be done to get this program back on track. He has an impressive vision for our program and he takes pride in developing the young men under his guidance."

Last season, Keys served as the defensive backs coach at the University of New Hampshire. He helped coach the team to an 8-5 record in 2010 and a spot in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Playoffs. The Wildcats, who were ranked #10 in the nation, were then upended by the #5 University of Delaware Blue Hens 16-3 in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Before his time with the Wildcats, Keys spent four years as the special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at Slippery Rock University (2006-10).

Prior to his work at Slippery Rock, Keys served one season as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Indiana State University (2005) after his five-year run at Findlay.

Before coming to Findlay, Keys was the defensive coordinator and interim head coach at Glenville State University (1999) for one year and a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia University from 1996-99.

"Coach Keys has been highly successful during his coaching career and I expect him to continue that trend here at The University of Findlay," said Rackley. "I would like to thank everyone who assisted in the search as well as President Katherine Fell and Vice President Marty Terry for their support through this process."

As a player at WVU, Keys earned the special teams MVP award in 1995 (the same season in which he served as a team captain), was selected as the top walk-on player in 1994 and was named to the Mountaineer Club (the highest honor a WVU player can achieve) in 1994 and 1995.

He was a member of Mountaineer teams that won the 1993 Big East Conference championship and played in the 1994 USF&G Sugar Bowl and 1994 Carquest Bowl games.