Colbert closing in on 200th career coaching victory

                 KEENE, N.H. 1/22/10 - A win by the Keene State College men's basketball team (9-8, 2-4 LEC) on Saturday (3 p.m.)against UMass-Boston will give Coach Rob Colbert his 200th career victory.

                "I'm not there yet," said a cautious Colbert.  "But it's been everything I hoped my coaching career would be; a lot of great friendships, a lot of great assistant coaches, and a lot of great players."

                "One thing that drives him is his motivation to win," said Kevin Ritter, a former player now on Colbert's coaching staff.  "Coach Colbert does it the right way, the way it should be done and usually it turns out in Ws.  He also has a good report with his players, not only during their careers, but after their playing days are done." 

                "He has the ability to motivate players and make them better," said junior guard Seth Stantial, one of the elder statesmen on a young KSC team. "I've really enjoyed playing for him."  

                Colbert, who enters Saturday's game with an overall record of 199-99 (.678 pct.), is in his 11th season on the Owls' bench. 

                Under the direction of Colbert, a native of Warwick, R.I., the Owls have enjoyed unprecedented success.   During his tenure, Keene State has not only made nine post-season appearances, and claimed four conference regular season titles, but  captured a first-ever LEC championship and trip to the NCAA Elite-Eight in 2004 and advanced to the Sweet-16 in 2007.  He has an impressive 92-40 record in the LEC, produced three All-Americans and three LEC Players of the Year, 18 All-LEC players, and seven 1,000-point scorers.

               Colbert, who served two years as an Owl assistant coach, came to KSC after serving as the head men's coach at Dutchess Community College (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.).