 | Full House: More than 1,500 fans joined the URI Men’s Basketball Team on the floor of Keaney Gymnasium for a final shot - a place in the University’s photographic record of the last official game to be played at Keaney. The new Convocation Center will be the site for the next season’s home games. Continued on Page 4.
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Keaney’ fond farewellHome of the Rams
Keaney Gymnasium was opened in 1953 and replaced venerable Rodman Hall. The gym was renovated in the early 1990s when chair back seats were installed at courtside and bleacher seating was added in the old stage area. The Rams began playing a portion of their home schedule at the Providence Civic Center when the facility opened during the 1972-73 season.
Keaney Gymnasium is named in honor of Rhode Island’s winningest coach, the legendary Frank Keaney. Keaney coached the Rams from 1920-48 and amassed a record of 401-124 (.764 winning percentage) in 28 seasons at the helm. Keaney is credited with inventing the fast break and the Keaney Ring. He also served as football coach from 1920-40 and is the school’s second winningest gridiron coach with 70 victories.
Keaney is responsible for turning a game of patterned plodding into 40 minutes of frenzied excitement while overflow crowds, delighted at the spectacle of racehorse basketball, howled their approval. In an era when most teams did well to score 40 or 50 points a game, Rhode Island averaged nearly 80 and routinely led the nation in scoring. In 1940, they routed Connecticut 102-81 in what was then the highest scoring college game ever played.
Keaney retired from active coaching in 1948 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960. Keaney, who is a charter member of the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame, passed away on Oct. 10, 1967, at the age of 81.
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