Keith Kenney ('99 '10g) enters his 21st year at the State University of New York at New Paltz Department of Athletics in 2023-24, while beginning his seventh season as the Hawks head men's basketball coach.
Following the 2023-24 campaign at the helm of the Hawks Men's Basketball program, Kenney led his alma mater to their first ever SUNYAC title, defeating two-time defending champion and No. 5 nationally ranked Oswego on its home floor to clinch an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament for the program's first ever appearance in the Big Dance. While there, the team took on No. 2 nationally ranked John Carroll and gave the hosts a scare, battling to what was a three-point game. The team finished 20-8 overall to claim their first ever 20-win season while boasting its best ever regular season SUNYAC mark of 12-6 to earn the highest seed of the tournament at No. 2. His team finished with a top-seven regional ranking in the final Division III Regional poll.
In Kenney's fifth season in 2022-23, the team finished 13-14 overall and 10-8 in SUNYAC play. The team woud make the playoffs and defeated Oneonta in the first round which would bring them back to the semifinals in back to back years. He coached Rylan Blondo who would recieve Second Team All-SUNYAC honors.
Kenney led the Hawks to unprecedented success in recent history. His team finished 15-11 overall and 11-7 in the SUNYAC, the best in nearly 25 years where they earned a home quarterfinal game after earning the fourth seed in the SUNYAC Tournament where they defeated No. 5 Cortland to move onto the SUNYAC semifinals for the first time since 2003. Rylan Blondo was a Player of the Year contender before an ankle injury hindered the latter part of his season, but he still earned First-Team All-SUNYAC honors — the program's first first-team recipient since 2013.
In Kenney's third season in 2019-20, the team finished 7-18 overall and won its final two games of the season on the road against conference rivals Plattsburgh State and SUNY Potsdam.
In Kenney's second season at the helm, the team had one of their best season's in nearly 20 years. The Hawks finished with a respectable 14-11 record and 9-9 SUNYAC mark. Kenney coached junior forward Tristan Wissemann to a third-team All-SUNYAC selection, the first all-conference player for the program since 2015.
Kenney joined the department in 2004 as the Strength and Conditioning Coach and served in that capacity until 2009 while also became the Director of Wellness & Recreation in 2005. Kenney became the Assistant Director of Athletics in 2012.
As the Assistant Director of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation Kenney serves as the Business Manager for the department, overseeing budget reports, purchasing and equipment room. Kenney's other duties consists of overseeing all fundraising, alumni relations and all information technology for the department, while also serving as the academic support contact for transfer student-athletes.
During his tenure as the Assistant Director of Athletics, Kenney served as the director of Student Development Programming for the Department of Athletics. He is the creator and current director of the Hawks Leadership Academy, and was the co-creator and director of the Students Trained as Resources (STAR) program.
Kenney spent the last three years coaching at New Paltz High School and New Paltz AAU and conducting personal basketball training programs as well as youth programs.
Kenney also served the department as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach for SUNY New Paltz for four seasons from 2003-2007.
Kenney starred as one of the most talented men’s basketball players to ever suit up for the Hawks. A two-time First-Team All-State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) selection. Kenney received the department’s esteemed Floyd Patterson Male Athlete of the Year following the 1998-99 academic year in recognition of his on-court success. Kenney has the fifth highest career scoring average in SUNYAC play history at 20.5 and totaled 927 career points in less than two full seasons at SUNY New Paltz. Kenney captained the 1999 ECAC Championship team that finished 18-11, and scored 41 points in the ECAC Championship game. The 1999 team holds the all-time record in wins for SUNY New Paltz Men’s basketball. Kenney holds the all-time 3-pointers made record in a game at nine.
Prior to SUNY New Paltz, Kenney played from 1995-97 at SUNY Cobleskill, gaining All-America recognition and graduating as the school's all-time scoring leader (991 points in two seasons) and all-time career steals leader. He remains a member of the Cobleskill Athletic Hall of Fame. His Cobleskill teams went a combined 60-9 in two years, finishing 27-3 in 1996-97 season where he also served as captain.
In his four years of playing at SUNY New Paltz and Cobleskill Kenney scored a total of 1, 918 points in his college career. His team records were 90-33 in his four years of college basketball.
Kenney played professionally for the Hudson Valley Hawks in 2007 at the age of 30 and averaged 24.5 points a game and was part of the inaugural season championship team.
Kenney is a Middletown, N.Y. native who attended Pine Bush High School where he was selected as a First-Team Times-Herald Record All-Star his senior year, leading Section IX in scoring (26.0 ppg) and gaining All-State Class AA honors.
Kenney was appointed by the college President to serve on the campus Alumni Council. He also serves as a Judicial Hearing Chairperson for the Dean of Students, and serves on the Workplace with Heart Committee and the Careers in Student Affairs Committee.
As the Director of Wellness & Recreation from 2005-2017, Kenney oversaw all programs pertaining to wellness & recreation outside of the 15-sport intercollegiate athletic program including wellness & fitness offerings, Outdoor Pursuits and Intramural's. He supervised all student employment for the area as well directly supervising the Assistant Director of Wellness & Recreation for Intramural's and the Assistant Director of Wellness & Recreation for Fitness and Wellness & Recreation Clerk. Kenney belongs to both the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). In addition, Kenney has served on three national committees within NIRSA.
He also worked as a System Engineer for four years at Infineon Technologies prior to New Paltz from 2000-2001.
He remains physically active, completed the New York City Marathon in 2009 and 2014. A true advocate for physical health, Kenney enjoys trying to teach people about the importance of health, wellness and recreation in order to improve their lives. He continues to work as a personal trainer.
Kenney earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from New Paltz in 1999 and has a Master of Science in Education-School Leadership.
