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Hancock,
MI.
(April
15, 2011) –
Jason Keefer, who, as an assistant women’s basketball
coach at Northwood University helped guide the
Timberwolves to the 2008 NCAA Division II national
tournament for the first time in school history and a
GLIAC North division co-championship, has accepted an
offer to become the next head women’s basketball coach
at Finlandia University.
“We’re extremely excited and fortunate that coach Keefer
has accepted the opportunity to take over our women’s
basketball program here at Finlandia,” said Director of
Athletics Chris Salani. “His coaching strengths and
experiences developed from being a member of two winning
GLIAC programs, and in helping turn the Northwood
women’s program around to perennial GLIAC and NCAA
contenders is exactly what our women’s program is in
need of. I’m looking to Coach Keefer to rely on his
demonstrated talents as a recruiter and coach in helping
bring exceptional student-athletes to Finlandia, and to
his coaching prowess both as a Division II assistant and
former head high school coach to build and transform our
women’s program to regional Division III
competitiveness.”
In his seven years as an assistant coach at Northwood,
Keefer was involved in all aspects of the basketball
program. He assisted current head coach Jeff Curtis with
recruiting, on floor coaching, practice planning, and
game planning during his tenure with the Timberwolves.
In addition to coaching the women’s team at Northwood,
Keefer was also an assistant men’s basketball coach at
Northwood University from 1997-2001. The men’s
basketball team won two GLIAC North division conference
titles and made the school’s first ever appearance in
the NCAA Division II tournament.
In between his two coaching stints at Northwood, Keefer
was the varsity women’s basketball coach at Beaverton
High School for three seasons from 2002-2004. Beaverton
compiled an overall record of 43-24 under his guidance
and he was named the Midland Daily News – Coach of the
Year in 2002.
Keefer began his coaching career as a student assistant
coach for the women’s basketball team at Northern
Michigan University from 1994-1996. During his time with
the Wildcats, they won two conference tournament
championships, a regional tournament championship, and
made it to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
Keefer, an Upper Peninsula native from Gwinn, Michigan
received his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration
from Central Michigan in 2004 and a Bachelor’s degree in
Physical Education from Northern Michigan University in
1996.
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