After 13 years being associated with the program, UVa-Wise women’s basketball head coach Rachel Clay-Keohane has announced she is stepping down from her position with the team.
The veteran women’s hoops head coach leaves her long-time post as the longest tenured coach in the program’s history following the recent completion of her 10th season at the helm. Coach Clay-Keohane was also an all-conference performer for the Lady Cavs while playing for both Preston Mitchell and Kim Bynum for three seasons in the early 1990s.
The head coach shared her plans of departure with her team last week before the UVa-Wise spring break.
“I shared with my team that I have spent over a third of my life with this basketball program. I hope to continue to stay involved with the program in some capacity,” explained Clay-Keohane.
As head coach, Clay-Keohane guided UVa-Wise to its first trip to the NAIA national tournament during the 2005-06 campaign where the team lost to defending national champion Morningside (IA) College. In that season, the Lady Cavs produced a 24-10 record and first Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament title. Over her tenure, the UVa-Wise program recorded a 90-219 mark over the last 10 seasons.
The UVa-Wise graduate directed four of the program’s all-time leading scorers including two-time NAIA All-American Sarah Helton, who finished her career as the top scorer and rebounder in the career books.
The head coach did not come to the decision easily and spent a great deal of time before coming to the conclusion that she would resign.
“With the ever increasing demands of both the women’s basketball and most importantly my family, I did not want to give anything but my best to each area and was getting more difficult as time went on. I felt I had to make the decision to step down as I want nothing but the best for this program with what it means to me,” said Clay-Keohane.
The former Lady Cav made her mark on the program during her three years as an inside post player. During her playing days, she scored more than 1,000 points and pulled down more than 1,000 rebounds over her career. Clay-Keohane was also part of the 1991-92 team which set the record for most wins in season in school history of 25 which still stands.
Clay-Keohane will continue to reside in Abingdon, Va. with her husband, Michael, and children, Elisabeth and William.
A national search for the veteran coach will begin later in the semester.
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