A two-time Landmark Conference Coach of the Year, Darryl Keckler has resurrected the Ranger men's basketball team over his 13 years in Madison. With 149 career wins, he is the all-time winningest men's basketball coach in program history.
Keckler's 2020-21 squad made history as the first Drew men's basketball team to win a Landmark Conference title with a thrilling overtime victory over the University of Scranton in Baldwin Gym. The Rangers were honored with a program-record three All-Landmark Conference selections while Malachi Walker C'22 was a repeat Defensive Player of the Year selection. The squad finished the abbreviated season with a 7-2 record.
In 2019-20, Drew posted its second-winningest season in school history, finishing 21-7 while tying for first place in the Landmark Conference regular-season standings at 11-3. The Rangers also gained a spot in the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region rankings for the second year in a row while earning their third-straight appearance in both the Landmark Conference and ECAC playoffs. Keckler's squad also garnered individual recognition, sweeping the Landmark Conference Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Under Keckler's direction, Riley Collins C'20 became the all-time leading scorer in program history, finishing his career with 1,949 points.
In 2018-19, Keckler steered Drew to an incredible campaign in which the team set a myriad of records and program-firsts. The Rangers finished 23-7 and won four more games than any team in Drew men's basketball history. The team also went 12-2 in Landmark Conference play, setting a program record for conference victories, and earned the No. 1 seed in the Landmark Conference tournament for the first time. The Rangers went on to capture the program's first Landmark Conference playoff victory with its semifinal win over Scranton. Drew also qualified for the ECAC Division III Championships, won two more postseason games to reach the semifinals, and gained the program's first-ever regional ranking. Individually, Drew captured its first Landmark Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year winners, and Keckler was honored as the Landmark Conference Coach of the Year.
Keckler also coached Drew to a strong year in 2017-18, when the squad posted its winningest season (16-11) in over 20 years while reaching both the Landmark Conference and ECAC playoffs. His team made its mark as a tremendous offensive unit, breaking school records for both points scored (2,237) and 3-pointers made (241) while posting the third-best scoring average in program history (82.9 ppg). The Rangers set an additional team record for rebounds in a season (1,052) in 2017-18. Keckler's 2010-11 team also qualified for the Landmark Conference tournament, where it earned the highest seed (No. 2) in program history up to that point. In addition, the Rangers set a school record for the longest winning streak that season, winning nine straight games. Keckler also coached his 2014-15 team to the Landmark Conference tournament.
Keckler's reputation as an outstanding recruiter has been upheld as he has produced one conference player of the year, one conference defensive player of the year, two conference rookies of the year, 14 all-conference selections, three all-region performers, and a preseason All-American.
Prior to Drew, Keckler served as the assistant coach at the Centennial Conference powerhouse, Gettysburg, for five seasons. During his tenure as the program's assistant coach and junior varsity head coach, the Bullets went 84-52 and advanced to the Centennial Conference playoffs each year. The Bullets had their most successful season ever in 2007-08 when they won a school-record 24 games, including their first two NCAA Tournament games, and advanced to the Sweet 16. A crucial part of creating that success, Keckler helped recruit and coach four players that were named to the All-Centennial Conference team as well as a first team All-District player and the regional rookie of the year.
A native of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Keckler graduated from Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University in 2003 with a degree in sports management. As a member of the TNU basketball team, he logged over 4,000 minutes while starting every game in which he played. A two-time All-TranSouth Athletic Conference selection, he finished his collegiate career with more than 1,250 points and ranked among the program's all-time top 10 in career assists. In addition to his collegiate exploits, Keckler was two-time regional basketball player of the year as well as an all-state quarterback at Mt. Juliet High School.
Keckler holds a master's degree in exercise science and physical education from McDaniel College. He and his wife, Alexa, are the parents of three daughters, Olivia, Camryn, and Mallory; and one son, Maddox.
