Episode 10: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: Thriving in the Pandemic to Win a National Championship

The X Factor: The Human Performance & Leadership Podcast with Dr. Stephen Long

Now in his eighth season as head coach at Sam Houston, K.C. Keeler has taken the Bearkats to places they have never been before, culminating in the program's first-ever FCS national championship in 2020.In his tenure he has directed the Bearkats to a 71-22 record that includes 14 victories over top-10 ranked opponents and 13 wins in NCAA postseason action.
During 27 years as a head football coach, Keeler has produced a record of 243 victories, only 95 losses and 1 tie. His teams at Rowan, Delaware and Sam Houston have combined for 16 NCAA postseason playoff appearances, 10 conference championships and played in 9 national championship games.
His SHSU teams made the playoffs in each of his first 4 seasons at the helm, including FCS semifinals appearances in 2014, 2015 and 2017 along with a pair of Southland Conference championships.
But it was the 2020 season that catapulted the Bearkats, and Keeler, even higher into the upper echelon of FCS programs. Keeler helped direct the Bearkats through the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed the season back to the Spring 2021 semester, and then helped Sam Houston close out a perfect 10-0 record with the program's first-ever title at the FCS level.
After a win over Monmouth in the opening round, Sam Houston knocked off North Dakota State and James Madison, winners of the last 9 FCS titles, to reach Frisco and the title game. The Kats then took down top-seeded South Dakota State to claim the title. With the win, Keeler became the first coach in FCS history to win FCS championships at multiple institutions, having also won the 2003 title at Delaware. He also passed Jim Tressell for the most FCS playoff wins in the division's history with 25.