By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/13/09
Dan Keating has enjoyed a whirlwind summer thus far.
On June 25, he learned he was hired as the new head coach at Inter-Ac League power Malvern Prep. Two days later, he got married and then embarked on a honeymoon to Bermuda with his wife, Kristin.
Now begins the task of replacing the highly-popular and highly-successful John McEvoy as coach of the perennial national power Friars. McEvoy resigned in late May after seven seasons to focus on his new position of assistant director of admissions at Malvern and to spend more time with his family.
Keating was head coach at St. Joseph’s Prep from 2006-08, posting an impressive record of 61-22 while leading the Hawks to three appearances in the Catholic League finals. He served as a top assistant to McEvoy this year when Malvern went 11-9 and tied for the Inter-Ac crown with Haverford School before falling to the Fords in the inaugural Inter-Ac Playoff championship game.
Keating grudglingly left The Prep a year ago because his new teaching job at the time made it too difficult for him to travel into the city every day. McEvoy indicated then that he would probably not be coaching at Malvern for much longer.
“When I made the decision to leave as head coach with a program blossoming at St. Joe’s Prep, I knew by going to Malvern I was taking one step back to make two steps forward,” said Keating. “Much of that is because of having the opportunity to work with John McEvoy.
“There is no doubt that I have huge shoes to fill. John McEvoy is Malvern lacrosse.”
Keating also coached at the Taft School in Watertown, Conn., from 2004-2005. Keating is a 1994 graduate of Episcopal Academy who earned scholastic All-American that year at midfield and played at Duke. His top assistant at The Prep was brother Mike Keating, another EA grad who played at Duke and will again be a top assistant.
Keating said his goal is to continue the great tradition at Malvern Prep.
“I have had longtime respect for John McEvoy,” said Keating of the man who starred as a player at Malvern Prep and Villanova and as a club and pro player in Philadelphia and was inducted into the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame. “I knew him when he was playing in the club ranks and I knew he did things the right way when we coached against him at St. Joe’s Prep.
“The Malvern players were always respectful and not just talented. They played the game the right way. I also liked Malvern’s commitment to athletics, and to promote the two-sport athlete. I wanted to be in an environment where it was promoted.”
Keating said his coaching philosophy is to develop strong relationships and help student-athletes become well-rounded individuals.
“I am really about developing relationships with players and the students,” he said. “It sounds like a cliché, but really it is about getting to know the student-athlete. That is far more important than wins and losses.”
As the lacrosse coach since 2003, McEvoy (125-34 record) led the Friars to four Inter-Ac titles and a state title in 2006. McEvoy is a 1986 graduate of Malvern Prep who also is a member of the Malvern Prep and Villanova Lacrosse Hall of Fames.
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