NC State men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts, who led the Wolfpack to an improbable run to last year’s Final Four, will not return next season, the school announced Sunday.
‘I want to thank Coach Keatts for his contributions to NC State and for always representing the university with class,’ athletic director Boo Corrigan said in a statement. ‘He will always have a treasured place in Wolfpack history for the accomplishments of his 2023-24 squad and I appreciate the passion he brought to this role. We wish him and his family the best in the future.’
Keatts was on the coaching hot seat at this time last year, but the Wolfpack won five games in five days to claim the ACC tournament title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
From there, the hot streak continued all the way to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed, with State knocking off ACC rival Duke in the regional final. It also earned Keatts a two-year contract extension through 2030.
But with many of the key performers from the Final Four team gone, the Wolfpack struggled to a 12-19 record this season, which ended with a loss to Miami in the second round of the ACC tournament.
Over his eight seasons in Raleigh, Keatts’ teams posted an overall record of 151-113 and a 69-84 mark in ACC play.
Keatts will be owed a buyout of about $7.8 million, which will be paid over the remainder of his contract term. He is obligated to find another coaching position with NC State having part of its financial commitment offset by his new salary.
(This post has been updated with additional information.)
