BELMONT, N.C. -- Belmont Abbey Head Men's Soccer Coach has decided to transition to a position with the school's Office of College Relations, Vice-President and Director of Athletics Stephen Miss announced today. The move will be effective on June 1.

Assistant coach Patrick Kibler will assume head coaching duties on an interim basis while a national search is underway.

"In early 2011, Bill Thierfelder and I met to discuss my candidacy for the men's position and we both knew there and then, that this opportunity was beyond (above) both of us and guided by the Spirit," Keating said. 

"The Lord has blessed my apostolate here, working with young men, using soccer as a vehicle for self-improvement, for holiness. I have enjoyed journeying alongside these young men, but also have enjoyed a rich and satisfying relationship with the wider Abbey community, the monks, soccer alumni, professors, and fellow coaches.

"I want to thank the Abbot, the President and our Athletic Director, for allowing me to be here for so long and apply my trade as a soccer coach. I want to thank Phil Brach concurrently, for hiring me to be the Director of Major Gifts, Athletics. I am moving on from working with student-athletes, to working alongside the Athletic Department and the College Relations office, to support the goals and ambitions of Abbey Athletics."

"Ultimately, Coach Keating's decision to transition into a new role at The Abbey is in everyone's best interest - with one possible exception: Men's Soccer students who no longer will reap the benefit of his incomparable, hands-on, and holistic approach to their formation and development, which he has provided selflessly the past fourteen years," Miss said. "We thank Coach for his dedication to the Men's Soccer program, and I am excited to continue to work with him in his new role as we attempt to bring to fruition needle moving, game changing enhancements for Abbey Athletics!"

Keating is the all-time winningest coach in Belmont Abbey men's soccer history, amassing 89 wins in his 14 seasons. He was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year twice, in 2023 and 2021, directing the Crusaders to the Spring 2021 conference tournament title.

In 2023, Keating led his team to its first 10-win season in 13 years, entering the postseason as the No. 4 seed.

Keating was named Head Men's Soccer Coach in April 2011, following 13 years as a Director of Coaching and Executive Director of various large clubs in the Midwest. Prior to that, he coached at the State University of New York (SUNY) and Warren Wilson College, where he also served as Assistant Athletic Director from 1994-1997.

As a player, Keating was a four-year starter at West Virginia, where he captained the team in his junior and senior year. He holds multiple scoring records at his alma mater and still stands tied for fifth on the career scoring list. Before coming to the United States, Keating had been a member of the South African under-17 national soccer team (1987).

Keating earned both a bachelor and master's degrees from WVU before taking up the assistant position at SUNY. During that period, he also earned his USSF A License and National Youth License.