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March 29, 2024 12:31 am
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EYE ON SPORTS: Dedication Of MVHS Stadium Well Deserved

Coach Jeff Keel

By Dave Belcher

Moapa Valley Progress

If you grew up a young man in Moapa Valley during the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 00’s consider yourself lucky. There was someone at Moapa Valley High School who was going to touch your life in one way or another.

On Friday night, October 1, Moapa Valley High School is going to dedicate its football field and stadium to Coach Jeff Keel during the half time of the varsity game against Green Valley . Coach Jeff Keel has touched the lives of thousands during his 36 years of service in the Moapa Valley community.

This football season marks his 37th as a Pirate football coach.During those years he has been the defensive coordinator for five different Moapa Valley head coaches including Gary Batchelor, Marty Taggart, Nick Bowler, Jeff Knutson, and current head coach Brent Lewis. He has coached in over 400 varsity football games during that time. The Pirates have won 21 Southern Division Championships. Moapa Valley has played in 16 state championship games and won 9 state titles.

Coach Keel has also been the boy’s head coach for track and field for 17 years and served as head coach for the girl’s track and field team for 8 years. He has been an assistant coach to both teams for the last three. During those years his girl’s teams won three state titles and won state runner-up twice. The boy’s have won eight state titles. Keel was named coach of the year in girl’s track and field five times by the Southern Nevada Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.

For each of the measureable accomplishments achieved, there are literally thousands of small ways that Coach Keel’s influence has been felt by his students and athletes.

There were the times before IPods, cell phones and portable DVD players when he would entertain his teams on long bus journeys by telling stories: ghost stories, stories to provoke thought, or stories of his youth. These stories would keep young listeners spellbound thoughout the trip. The team would pack the seats all around to get everyone within ear shot of the coach.

The best play he ever drew up was one time on a trip to Lincoln County. It was called, “escape for Panaca.”

On that occasion, his JV basketball team was blowing out the Lynx when a Pirate player tackled a Lynx player right in front of the Lincoln bench. The Lincoln bench emptied as well as their students section behind them. Coach Keel told the Moapa bench to stay put, and then he ran in for the rescue.

After pulling the Pirate from the pile Keel gathered the team together in the middle of the court. There the team was taunted, threatened, and given certain demonstrations in sign language.

The game was finally called by the officials with just a couple minutes to play. Lincoln left the floor, then Moapa.

The life saving play he drew up came in the locker room to a very quiet and wide-eyed group of terrified prey. The team went outside to the left and around two corners to a side door. Once there a policeman would let them in. The team executed that play to perfection. Upon arriving in the gym safely, Coach told them to sit and stay in the corner bleachers.

“Do not leave for any reason,” Coach Keel said. There was a police man there who sat there through the varsity game which followed. After that the gym was cleared and we were escorted to the bus by police and administration. The varsity team was there on the bus waiting for us.

The bus was then escorted by police and a pickup or two as we left Panaca all the way to Caliente. The only injury came to the bus, a cracked rear window.

Then there was the comfort Coach Keel gave a young man a day after his sister was killed in a car accident. The boy went to Tonopah to play because Coach Keel could help make things better and he did.

The bottom line is Coach Keel loves kids. His dedication to the youth of this valley can not be matched…for 37 years and counting. Let’s hope for 10 more. The dedication of the field and stadium is well deserved. Thank you Coach!

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