Going into the 2016 season, Berks Catholic moved up two classes to 4A and head football coach Rick Keeley just finished another successful season at 12-2 and won another district championship (third in four years).
“I knew 2016 could be a special season for us,” said Keeley. “In the spring last year Doug Dahns (Wilson Head Football Coach) called me about doing a scrimmage. I took that as a huge compliment. They are the team to beat in Berks County. The way we played in that scrimmage against Wilson, which I think is a great football program, I knew we could be competitive against anybody in the state.”
Keeley began his long coaching career at St. Pius X in 1976. He moved to Holy Name High School in 1978. He was an assistant before becoming head coach in 1986. Reading Central Catholic and Holy Name merged to start the 2011-12 school years as Berks Catholic High School.
He has been head coach at Berks Catholic since 2011 with an record of 65-12 and 31 out of the 41 years coaching as a head coach.
“I am blessed with a great staff and most of them have played for me. They believe in the system we run. I use a quote that all the kids know, Respect all and fear none.”