Rob Keefe
Encyclopedia
Robert Keefe was born on November 5, 1980, and is the former head coach for the Spokane Shock
of the Arena Football League. Keefe attended Mercyhurst College
and has won championships as a player and coach in the af2
, and the Arena Football League
.
from 1999 to 2003. He had a quietly recognized, yet notable college career. He had eight career interceptions and had the 27th rank in school history with 166 career tackles. He was also a stalwart punt returner and holds the school's career record with 643 yards on punt returns, with an average of 9.2 yards per return.
in 2006 to make the "Cinderella Story" happen as this was the first year of the Spokane Shock franchise. In 2007, Keefe helped the Spokane Shock reach the playoffs, however losing in the 1st round to the Louisville Fire
.
) with 36 tackles, and 18 returns for a total of 339 yards.
Rob Keefe has been the only player to win championships in both the af2 and AFL as a player.
with a blowout victory of 74-27.
After the 2009 season, people began to wonder what was going to happen to the af2, as there was no AFL at that present time. With things being worked out behind closed doors (in regards to the new AFL) Keefe was assigned the head coach position with the Shock. In the winter of 2009, it was announced that the AFL would be returning under a new business plan and the Spokane Shock were to be in it, making Keefe the first head coach for the Shock's AFL history. On August 20, 2010, Rob took his team to ArenaBowl XXIII
, defeating the Tampa Bay Storm
in what would be the Shock's first ever ArenaBowl win.
After going 9-9 in the 2011 season, and losing in a lopsided game in the first round of the playoffs, the Shock decided not to renew his contract for the 2012 AFL season.
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
of the Arena Football League. Keefe attended Mercyhurst College
Mercyhurst College
Mercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
and has won championships as a player and coach in the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, and the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
.
College
Keefe attended Mercyhurst College in Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
from 1999 to 2003. He had a quietly recognized, yet notable college career. He had eight career interceptions and had the 27th rank in school history with 166 career tackles. He was also a stalwart punt returner and holds the school's career record with 643 yards on punt returns, with an average of 9.2 yards per return.
af2
As a player for the Spokane Shock, Keefe had a total of 168 tackles (which is a franchise record), 19 interceptions (2nd all-time) and 30 pass break-ups. Keefe was to quickly become a fan favorite and had acquired the well known nickname "Keefense". He helped lead the Shock to a victory of the ArenaCupArenaCup
The ArenaCup is the af2's championship game. For the league's first five years, it was held at the arena of the higher seeded team. However, the 2005 ArenaCup was the first to be played at a neutral site in Bossier City, Louisiana. The 2006 ArenaCup was played in Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San...
in 2006 to make the "Cinderella Story" happen as this was the first year of the Spokane Shock franchise. In 2007, Keefe helped the Spokane Shock reach the playoffs, however losing in the 1st round to the Louisville Fire
Louisville Fire
The Louisville Fire was an arena football team that played its home games at the Brown-Forman Field in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. They were a 2001 expansion team of the af2. Their owner/operator was former Pro Bowl lineman and Louisville native Will Wolford. The team was somewhat...
.
AFL
With Keefe's success in the af2, he had made the 2008 AFL roster, playing for the Philadelphia Soul. Keefe had yet again assisted the team to a championship (ArenaBowl XXIIArenaBowl XXII
ArenaBowl XXII was played on July 27, 2008 at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana . It was the 22nd and final championship game in the history of the original Arena Football League. This was the fourth neutral site ArenaBowl in AFL history and the second ArenaBowl in the state of Louisiana...
) with 36 tackles, and 18 returns for a total of 339 yards.
Rob Keefe has been the only player to win championships in both the af2 and AFL as a player.
Coaching
With the original AFL and the AFL Players Association folding after the 2008 postseason, he decided to come back to his roots, this time as part of the 2009 coaching staff for the Shock. He was the Assistant Coach behind Adam Shackleford, helping the Shock win the 10th and final ArenaCup against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PioneersWilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers were a minor league arena football team that played in the AF2. The team was part of the East Division in the American conference. The Pioneers were an expansion team for the league's 2002 season, and were the runner-ups in ArenaCup VIII and ArenaCup X.-2001:The...
with a blowout victory of 74-27.
After the 2009 season, people began to wonder what was going to happen to the af2, as there was no AFL at that present time. With things being worked out behind closed doors (in regards to the new AFL) Keefe was assigned the head coach position with the Shock. In the winter of 2009, it was announced that the AFL would be returning under a new business plan and the Spokane Shock were to be in it, making Keefe the first head coach for the Shock's AFL history. On August 20, 2010, Rob took his team to ArenaBowl XXIII
ArenaBowl XXIII
NAPA Auto Parts ArenaBowl XXIII was an arena football game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X of the former af2...
, defeating the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
in what would be the Shock's first ever ArenaBowl win.
After going 9-9 in the 2011 season, and losing in a lopsided game in the first round of the playoffs, the Shock decided not to renew his contract for the 2012 AFL season.