By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
In a ceremony held during the half-time of Friday night’s Moapa Valley High School varsity football game, school administrators unvieled a new sign naming the MVHS football field and stadium after long-time coach and teacher, Jeff Keel.
In the presence of a large home -game crowd, Coach Keel stood, along with members of his family to be recognized. He was given an enthusiastic ovation from the local audience.
“I am humbled to be here tonight to honor a true legend in Moapa Valley,” said MVHS principal Grant Hanevold during the ceremony.
Hanevold recognized Keel for his 36 year career at the school. “He is the only employee left at the high school, and perhaps in the valley, who was hired by Grant Bowler,” Hanevold said of Keel. “During those 36 plus years he has spent every Fall and every Spring coaching football and track.”
As a football coach, Keel has participated in 21 Southern Division Chmpionships, 15 State Championship games and nine state titles. In Track and Field, Keel led girls teams to three state titles and boys teams to eight state titles. He was named “Coach of the Year” in girls track five times by the Southern Nevada Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Hanevold quoted past MVHS athletes, coaches and administrators who gave words of praise and recognition for Keel’s contribution to local students.
Former principal Dr. Gary Cameron said that “during the thirty plus years that Jeff has coached fotball, he has been a critical link in the chain of success we have enjoyed.”
Former head coach Marty Taggart stated that Keel’s “…knowledge and understanding of the game is unequaled by most of us who have coached with him at MVHS.”
Hanevold also quoted current head coach and former player Brent Lewis saying “…Coach Keel has given his life to the service of young men at MVHS and I love and appreciate him fromt he bottom of my heart.”
During his comments, Hanevold clarified that the ceremony was not yet a dedication. He acknowledged that the school administration had not followed all proper school district procedures for naming the facility.
“To be formally recognized by the Clark County School District…it has to be formally approved by the school board of trustees,” he said.
Hanevold apologized to the community and the CCSD leadership for the error. “I guess in the spirit of (former MVHS principal) Grant Bowler, we just went forward with what we thought was the right thing to do.”
Hanevold assured the crowd that the school is working through the CCSD process in hopes that the field will have an official dedication in the near future.
After Hanevold’s presentation, the new sign was unveiled which specified the facility as Jeff Keel Field and Stadium.
