(Editor’s Note: Montana Western media release)
DILLON — The University of Montana Western Director of Athletics Bill Wilson has announced that Steve Keller has resigned as head men’s basketball coach.
Keller, who just completed his eleventh season as head coach of the Bulldogs, announced that he is resigning to take a college head coaching position elsewhere.
“On behalf of Montana Western I want to thank Coach Keller for his service to not only the Bulldog basketball program, but to the university and to the community of Dillon.” said Director of Athletics Bill Wilson. “He has built our men’s basketball program into a highly competitive program both in the Frontier Conference and nationally, and we are grateful for his commitment to excellence.”
This season Keller guided the Bulldogs to the most wins in a season in school history (27-8). He shared a Frontier Conference regular season title with a 13-5 mark, had two first-team all-conference selections, and three NAIA all-Americans. The Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA quarterfinals for just the second time in school history.
Keller’s overall record with the Bulldogs is 231-124 and 108-62 in Frontier play. He was named Frontier Conference Coach of the year four times and won three conference championships.
Keller returned the Bulldogs to national prominence and perennial conference contender. He has led the Bulldogs to eight NAIA national tournament appearances. He finished third or better in the Frontier Conference eight times.
“My past 11 years at Montana Western have been some of the best years of my coaching life,” said Keller. “The support from the administration, faculty, staff, and especially this community was second to none. I have been very fortunate to coach the caliber of athletes we’ve had at Western, and any success I have had is because of them. This was my first college head coaching job, and I am so thankful that Mark Durham gave me this opportunity. I will always be a Bulldog at heart and will miss the great people of Western and the town of Dillon.”
The University of Montana Western will begin a national search to find its next head men’s basketball coach.
