TRANSPLANTED MIDWESTERNER KEATS EMBRACING HIS ADOPTED MINERS
By Jeff Darby, UTEP Athletics Matt Keats grew up about as far away from El Paso as you can imagine – in the cold and windy suburbs of Chicago. He played ice hockey, and cheered on the Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox. When he moved to Boston in the late ‘70s, his love for sports traveled with him, and he began supporting the Bruins, Celtics and Patriots. No matter where he went, sports played a big role in Keats’ life. So when his manufacturing company decided to open a satellite branch in El Paso in the mid ‘90s, suddenly he needed to find a new team. “When I got here, I had absolutely no idea about UTEP, its sports history, the NCAA basketball championship or Don Haskins,” he said. That all changed when a tall gentleman named John Thompson set foot in his office one day. “He came in to make a cold call on me, and it turns out he was the athletic director at UTEP at the time,” Keats said. “He asked me, ‘Are you a sports fan?’ and I said, ‘You came to the right place.’”
Later, he purchased football season tickets since both of his sons played the game. “It was a great family event for me, my wife and two boys,” he said. “So I had four basketball seats and four football seats.” A quarter century later, Keats continues to support his adopted Miners, and has a lot of fond memories to recall. “I really, really enjoy basketball and I would say my favorite season was the [2009-10] conference championship year,” he said. “Those were really exciting times. A lot of the teams have been very, very good, going back to when I first moved here. We have seen a lot of UTEP players go on to be successful professional athletes. A perfect example right now is Aaron Jones. He is really exciting to watch, and a guy that is putting El Paso on the map with his ‘915’ [hand gesture].” As his support for UTEP Athletics has grown, Keats has had the opportunity to develop personal relationships with some of the key coaches and administrators.
“I have been privileged to go to a UTEP basketball practice, to talk to Rodney Terry and Dana Dimel,” he said. “Jim Senter has been great, he has been to my facility a couple of times. I have a huge connection, and that’s what UTEP does for this community, it bands everybody together. That’s what sports should do, and UTEP does a good job of it.” Keats and UTEP Athletics have forged a mutual admiration society, and that does not go unnoticed. “The people that represent the University really do a great job of coming out to the community and meeting people,” he said. “When I’m at the game, I see Jim Senter, and he comes up and shakes my hand and says, ‘Thank you Matt.’ I can’t tell you how many personal cards I’ve gotten in the last two years that show that whenever I’m giving, they care and they recognize it. It means a lot.” Keats is excited about the future of UTEP Athletics, and encourages others to take his lead and get behind the Miners. “I encourage other people in El Paso to jump on the bandwagon, to promote and donate,” he said. “Give when you can, because this can only better our economy and it helps instill pride in our city.”
Learn how you can make your impact by visiting MinerAthleticClub.com
Before long, Keats found himself having lunch at Jaxon’s Restaurant with Thompson and the legendary coach that they called ‘The Bear.’ “I started listening, and Don was a really good storyteller,” Keats said. “I was enthralled, and so enthused by that luncheon that I signed up for basketball season tickets, I think the next day.”
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