Mike Keeler

Position: Head Coach (15th Season) E-mail/Phone: mkeeler@sandiego.edu/260-2372

Mike Keeler has done a remarkable job at USD in the development of San Diego's swimming and diving program since taking over as the Toreros head coach in the fall of 1998. Keeler's student-athletes have shattered virtually every school record. Under his guidance the Toreros won back-to-back team titles at the Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference Championships (2000 & 2001) and made the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Championships (2003)- setting the table for San Diego's successful bid for membership in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2005.

Keeler, a two-time PCSC Coach of the Year, has a track record of recruiting and developing outstanding student-athletes. In USD's six seasons in the PCSC under his direction, 10 different Toreros established conference records while 30 were recognized as all-conference performers. In 2003, USD placed 38th nationally at the NCAA Championships behind the efforts of then-freshman standout and All-America honorable mention Ashley Swart.

Prior to USD, Keeler served as assistant men's swim coach at Purdue University in Indiana for five seasons. Keeler held assistant swim coaching posts for the women's swimming program at Purdue (1993-94), similar men's and women's positions at the University of Miami (1991-93) and at Michigan State (1988). Through the 1989-91 seasons, Keeler was the assistant men's coach for Michigan State.

Throughout his extended collegiate coaching career, Keeler has recruited and trained men and women who have scored as high as third at the NCAA Championships. At Purdue, Keeler assisted in coaching the Boilermakers to a 34th place finish at the 1998 NCAA Championships with five individuals being awarded All-American honors. At the 1997 NCAA Championships, the team placed 19th with four All-Americans and four championship finalists. At the conference level, in a four year span, Purdue produced 12 Big Ten Champions, 55 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and eight national academic All-American recipients.

Besides his collegiate coaching experience, Keeler worked as camp director and guest speaker at the Elite Olympic Development Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs; Co-Camp Director at Michigan State (summer, 1993); head senior coach for Hurricane Aquatics (summer, 1992); and as head coach for the Spartan Swim Club (summer, 1989).

A 1984 graduate of Central Michigan University, Mike earned his B.S. Degree in Physical Education. He went on to earn his M.S. degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis on Coaching and Athletic Administration, at Michigan State in 1992. He is currently a member of the United States Swimming, College Swim Coaches Association, and the American Swim Coaches Association. He was the lead-author of "Biomechanical Analysis: Stroke Frequency/Velocity Testing Protocol", an article that appeared in the United States Swimming Magazine "Coaches Quarterly." Mike and his wife Michele have three children, Matthew (14), Mitchell (10) and Mayce (9).