Penn State Football: Looking for an FCS Coach? Try Delaware's K.C. Keeler

In 2001 when Ohio State needed to find a new head coach for their football program, they looked near and far before settling on an Ohio legend from the FCS ranks.

With four national championships to his name, Ohio State felt confident in its selection to lead its program in hopes that he might get Ohio State back to the top of not only the Big Ten, but the college football world.

That man was Jim Tressel, who coached Youngstown State to four 1-AA national championships between 1991 and 1997, including back-to-back championships in 1993 and 1994. Tressel was not the first coach to make a jump from the FCS to FBS ranks and find success.

In fact, it happens plenty of times, but Tressel might be one of the most successful coaches to do so.

While Penn State is opening up the search for a new head coach and names such as Dan Mullen, Mark Richt, Butch Davis, Greg Schiano and more from other FBS programs are being thrown around through various outlets, there is no certainty on what exactly Penn State's search committee for a head coach is looking for.

What if they happen to dip their toes in the ranks of the FCS? In the event that is an option they would consider, they probably will not have to look too far to find a viable candidate.

K.C. Keeler, head coach of the Delaware Blue Hens, could be that underdog candidate.

There is no disputing Keeler's track record as a head coach. Since being named head coach of Division III Rowan in 1993 and moving on to the same position at Delaware in 2002, all Keeler has done is produce winning football teams.

Keeler has won four New Jersey Athletic Conference championships at Rowan, a pair of Atlantic 10 championships and one CAA championship at Delaware, as well as the 2003 FCS national championship with the Blue Hens.

Just last season Keeler was named the AFCA Coach of the Year and the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winner for the FCS. Keeler has had just two losing seasons in his coaching career, but he has always found a way to rebuild in a short period of time.

If Penn State wants a coach that will utilize a spread offense, Keeler can do just that, although with a Wing-T style spread, and there is plenty of confidence in Keeler. He is not afraid to speak his mind and tell you just how he sees things, but he is not the kind of coach who says things that can come back to haunt him.

Keeler is also has the kind of football background that seems as though it would play well with Penn State's football history. Keeler is a former linebacker and he even has a brief professional playing career in Philadelphia between the Eagles and the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL.

The Emmaus native is familiar with Pennsylvania for sure, recruiting in the state of Pennsylvania and competing against the likes of Villanova for years.

The flip side is that Keeler is a Delaware alum, and he has always seemed to be just fine where he is in his career. But if Penn State were to make a phone call to Keeler, would he be quick to turn it down? After a decade in Newark, perhaps Keeler is ready for his next challenge.

And here is one more thought to consider, which may or may not play a role in anything. As conferences expand and FCS programs investigate moving up to the FBS in some capacity, including programs like Villanova, Delaware's football future could be altered in a number of ways.

As much as Keeler may love Delaware football, and certainly nobody would hold that against him, if there was ever a time for Keeler to consider a move up to the FBS, this could be it.

Is that something he is interested in? He has never shown an interest before, but if a call is made he would certainly at least listen.

Wouldn't he?

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