Gonzaga Hires Keith Urgo '97 as Next Head Basketball Coach

Gonzaga is excited to welcome Coach Keith Urgo as our next Head Basketball Coach!

A proud alumnus of the Class of 1997, Coach Urgo was a three-sport athlete on Eye Street who continued his athletic career at Fairfield University, playing both basketball and lacrosse. After college, Coach Urgo began his career in education at the Washington Jesuit Academy and coached basketball at Gonzaga for four years as the Freshman Head Coach and a Varsity Assistant. Over the past 18 years, he has coached at the collegiate level with roles at Villanova, Penn State, and Fordham. Three years ago, he became the Head Coach of Fordham, earning the title of Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in his first season.

“Coach Urgo’s coaching philosophy is deeply rooted in Jesuit tradition and mission,” says Athletic Director Mr. Terry Kernan ‘08. “Having attended or served at four separate Jesuit institutions, he is committed to the individual growth of each player, both on and off the court. He is passionate about returning to his alma mater to lead Gonzaga’s basketball program. We can’t wait to welcome him back to Eye Street.”

In addition to coaching, Coach Urgo will also serve as an Assistant Athletic Director. In this role, he will act as a liaison between Gonzaga Campus Ministry office and Athletics, ensuring all sports programs engage in team-based service projects. He will also launch a new NIL and College Financial Literacy Education Program, which will include seminars, workshops, and guest speakers to prepare our athletes and their families for the evolving college landscape.

“It’s a full-circle moment to be the third coach in [50 years] at a place where I transitioned from a boy to a man,” Urgo told the Washington Post. “It’s a surreal moment, and I feel incredibly privileged and honored to take the torch. Hopefully I can continue to keep the standard that’s been created as high as it is.”

 

 

Welcome Coach Urgo and Go Gonzaga!