When you coach one of the top programs in Division III, there is
pressure to succeed every time you lead your team onto the
court. When you return to the court after tying the program
record for wins (25), advancing to the Sweet-16 of the NCAA
tournament, not to mention being ranked in several preseason polls,
the stakes become even higher.
Set to begin his ninth season as head coach of the Keene State
men's basketball team, Rob Colbert wouldn't want it any other
way.
Directing a veteran team with high expectations, Colbert and his
2007-08 Owls are ready to accept the challenge of what promise to
be a demanding schedule and maintaining the Owls' perch as a top
program in New England and a consistent contender for the Little
East Championship.
"When we took over the program 10 years ago, people laughed when we
told them about our high aspirations for the program," Colbert
said. Now, we are viewed as a one of the national powers, and
we have to live up to that name."
Under the direction of Colbert, 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 last season.
Under Colbert's direction, KSC has an impressive 82-30 record in
the LEC, produced two All-Americans and three LEC Players of the
Year, 17 All-LEC players, and seven 1,000-point scorers. His career
record stands at 162-65 (.720 pct.).
That Keene State has become a top program under Colbert should come
as no surprise. The Warwick, R.I., native coached at every level of
college competition, including a two-year stint (1995-97) as an
Owls' assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, prior to taking
over as Keene State's 11th head coach in 1999. Already working as a
high school coach as an undergraduate, Colbert was hired as an
assistant coach at Bard College (Annandale, N.Y.) after he
graduated from Marist College in 1992. He served for two years as
the head men's coach at Dutchess Community College (Poughkeepsie,
N.Y.), before coming to Keene State in the fall of 1995.
During his initial stint on the KSC staff, Colbert had the
opportunity to bring to the campus many of the players who helped
the Owls make an immediate impact in the Little East. He then
returned to his alma mater to further his coaching experience and
came back to KSC two years later as the Keene State's head
coach.
Coach Colbert directs the KSC Boys Basketball Camp each summer and
the High Intensity Basketball Camp with former Keene High coach
Phil Hebert. Colbert and his wife, Michelle, and son Andrew reside
in Swanzey, N.H.
Kevin Justice begins his sixth season as an assistant coach with
the Keene State men's basketball program. Justice, who also serves
as the school's admission counselor for multicultural recruitment,
will once again be involved in all facets of the program. His
responsibilities will also include post player development, and
player relations.
Originally from Boise Idaho, Justice came to Keene State from
Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., where he was a four-year
member of the basketball team.
The senior member of KSC's assistant coaching staff, Ben Mecklenberg returns for his seventh season with the program. Mecklenburg, will once again serve many roles with the team, including day-to-day operations, floor coaching, recruiting, and the Owls' director of scouting. Originally from Jamestown, North Dakota, Mecklenberg played at Jamestown High School before moving on to play two seasons at Jamestown College, a nationally ranked NAIA team. Mecklenberg is also the intramural coordinator at Keene State.
One of the most respected Owl players during his just completed
four-year career, Matt Adams moves over to the bench as an
assistant coach this season.
Adams, who served as a senior captain, will utilize his
understanding of the game and leadership qualities to begin to mold
what promises to be a successful coaching career. In addition
to dealing with player relations and monitoring the player's
academic success, he will also head up Keene State's recruiting
efforts.
A prolific outside shooter and three-point specialist during his
KSC career, Adams joined the Owls after playing at Keene High
School where he was a team captain and offensive MVP as a
senior.
Adams, a Chesterfield, N.H. native, is currently completing his
degree in History.































