Squeak, pivot, swish. The sounds of the basketball court are music to Kyle Keegan ’22’s ears. He pauses practice as he weaves between the sea of people gathered around the net, demonstrating the next play. Keegan emphasizes the necessity of rhythm and precision. He encourages his team, reciting new strategies to move the ball down the court. Although the tall senior in athletic clothing could be mistaken for a student-athlete, he is actually a student-coach, leading the boys basketball team to numerous victories.

“I’ve always loved the game, but I was never good enough to play on the varsity level. In freshman and sophomore year I was able to showcase my basketball IQ and make a lot of friends on the team. So when a fall league team was created to practice for the winter season, my teammates thought I was best quali ed to coach,” Keegan said.

After persuading boys basketball Head Coach Patrick Noone, Keegan was appointed co-coach. Keegan, or Coach K as some of his players call him, admits the change was not easy. However, he already had both the basketball knowledge and teammates’ support to ease him into his new role.

“Kyle is a good motivator and holds us accountable. His belief in the team and knowledge of the game is unparalleled. It was a no brainer that he become our coach for the fall league, said athlete Connor McDowell ’22. Although Keegan has experienced success, he acknowledges that there are numerous di culties that come with being a young coach.  e biggest challenge, in his opinion, is drawing the line between his role as a coach on the court and as a friend off the court.“

It’s been di cult to separate ... Kyle, their friend, and Kyle, their coach. I feel that I’ve done a good job of  ipping that switch so far though,” Keegan said.

But in reality, it is the duality of his role as a student-coach that has resulted in the PHS boys basketball teams’ success.

Keegan has been able to help his team improve both on and off the court by acting as both a friend and a coach. As a friend, he is able to increase team spirit and unity. As a coach, he is able to implement specific new strategies that have helped the team overcome many of their closest rivals.Keegan motivates his players by listening to music with them while they carpool to games together. Rapping along to “Dreams and Nightmares” has become a tradition before every game. Keegan also hosts team dinners before games to encourage camaraderie and team bonding.

In addition, Keegan is proud of how he acts as a coach to the team, the most memorable coaching moment being a hard-fought first win of the season.

“We lost the lead late in the second half [but we] showed resilience and came out with the win in overtime. I reminded my team to stick to the program and trust the process.  e most important thing was for the team to trust each other and remember not to be sel sh when they have the ball,” Keegan said.

This year, PHS basketball is on the rise. Rebounding from a losing record last year, they are more determined than ever to improve this season. Keegan has been working with Noone in order to implement changes.

The combination of Keegan and Noone’s varied leadership styles provides a mix of experienced guidance and new ideas. Under Keegan’s innovative and experimental tutelage, the team has implemented several new strategies that address last year’s isues with communication and teamwork.

“I’ve been working with Coach Noone to implement a new system. We are trying to rotate new players in and re-acclimate returning players as well. We play our best basketball when we use our PHS brand of fast-break basketball, and in this pre-season we’ve been trying to build chemistry,” Keegan said.

Keegan has not only brought new strategies to the team but also created more interest in attending the boys basketball games. A proponent of the “Pack the Cage” mentality, Keegan puts special emphasis on making the games exciting to watch and instills a sense of camaraderie within his team.

“We see every team as a rival. No matter who we play, we expect to beat them by 50,” Keegan said.

Demonstrated by their winning record, the new strategy and energy Keegan has brought to the team seems to be working.  e boys’ fall league has improved, with three wins and one loss under Keegan’s mentorship. They, along with the rest of the school, cannot wait to see what the winter season brings.

“You can expect a great year from the Princeton Tigers. If we play our normal strategy of Tigers basketball, I am completely sure that we’ll come out on top,” Keegan said.