Kirby Dean, Head Coach (Sixth Season, EMU '92)

Kirby Dean enters his sixth year as men's basketball coach at Eastern Mennonite University for the 2007-08 season. Dean inherited a Royals team that won just three games prior to his arrival. In his first season in 2003-04, the team went 6-19 overall and 4-14 in the ODAC. In 2004-05, EMU went 12-13 overall and 8-10 in conference, qualifying for the ODAC tournament for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign. The Royals repeated the feat in 2005-06, tying for seventh in the ODAC with a 6-12 conference mark and an 11-15 overall record. This past season, Dean reached the ODAC Tournament for the third straight year, falling to eventual conference champion Guilford College.

Dean played four years at EMU from 1988 to 1992. He was named best defensive player in 1989, 1990, and 1992. In 1992, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Coaching. Following graduation he spent two years as an assistant coach with the Royals.

In 1994, Dean, who grew up in nearby Penn Laird, Va., moved down Interstate 81 to the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. He spent eight years from 1994 to 2002 as an assistant coach at the Division I institution. In 1995, the team went 18-10 overall and 10-4 in the Southern Conference. It was the most wins by a VMI squad since the 1970s. From 1994 to 1999, VMI went 40-33 in conference games, the most successful five-year run at the military school since the 1970s.

The Valley called Dean back closer to home in 2002 when he spent a year as the high school boys' basketball coach at Waynesboro High School and taught middle school. After one season, his alma mater came calling and Kirby Dean was named Head Coach of Men's Basketball at EMU.

In addition to his undergraduate degree, Dean also holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Administration from James Madison University. He currently lives in Harrisonburg with his wife Regina who is an elementary teacher in the Augusta County Public School District.

Dean has two bible verses that speak to him both in his life as EMU basketball coach and in his personal life. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord…plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Through many years of coaching basketball, Dean most enjoys the relations that he develops with players. He greatly appreciates that many of his players from eight or more years ago at VMI still call or e-mail to keep in touch.

Bill Hale, Assistant Coach (Emory and Henry, '70)

Bill Hale is no stranger to success and has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the EMU men's basketball program. Hale begins his ninth season with the Royals for the 2008-09 season.

Hale brings 34 years of coaching experience and a winning attitude. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Stuarts Draft (Va.) High School in 1970. In 1976, he took over as head coach.

After the 1982-83 season, Hale moved on to Fort Defiance High School where he enjoyed much success. Twice he has been named Valley District Coach of the Year (95-96 and 98-99) and received Region Coach of the Year honors in the 95-96 season. 1995-96 was also a great year for Hale as he was named Virginia State Coach of the Year and watched his team capture the Valley District regular season championship and the Region II Championship.

Hale is a 1970 graduate of Emory & Henry College with a degree in history and physical education. While at Emory & Henry, Hale played four years of basketball and one year of baseball for the Wasps.

He and his wife, Glenna, reside in Weyers Cave. They have two sons, Chase, a professor in the physical education department at Bridgewater College, and Nathan is the director of operations for the women's basketball team at James Madison University.

Carey Keyes, Assistant Coach (EMU '98)

Carey Keyes returns to the sidelines as the assistant coach of his alma mater. Keyes spent two seasons under the direction of former head coach Tom Baker and enters the 2008-09 season in his sixth year under Dean.

Before joining the coaching ranks, Keyes enjoyed a successful career in a Royal's uniform. The ODAC Player of the Year led EMU to the best ever record in school history finishing 16-9. Keyes led the team in scoring averaging over 15 points per contest. He scored in double figures in 22 of 25 games. In addition to ODAC Player of the Year honors, Keyes was named All-ODAC First Team.

Currently, Keyes is a realtor with Coldwell Banker-Funkhouser Realtors. He resides in Penn Laird, Va., with his wife Courtney and son Cooper.

Greg Smith, Assistant Coach (West Virginia Tech)

Greg Smith brings a wealth of knowledge to Eastern Mennonite University having over 25 years of coaching experience. Smith is no stranger to the Valley having coached at Elkton and Spotswood High Schools. He then spent 21 years at Pendleton County High School in West Virginia.

To his credit, Smith has over 300 career wins and ten conference championships. His teams have made seven trips to the state tournament walking away with the title in 1992.

Eight times Smith has been named District or Region Coach of the Year and was the West Virginia Coach of the Year in 1992.

On commenting about being at EMU, "God has blessed me the past 25 years with a great family and a good career. Now he has called me back to the valley to EMU to help rebuild a program."

Smith and his wife Jackie have a son, Eric who is attending Glenville State College, and a daughter, Kellie, who is an elementary school teacher in Illinois.

Mat Huff, Assistant Coach (EMU '06)

Mat Huff will return for a second year as an assistant coach under Kirby Dean for the 2008-09 season. Huff played one year at Emory & Henry before transferring and playing two years under Dean. Huff also played two years of tennis while a student at EMU.

“I enjoy working with Kirby and the rest of the staff at Eastern Mennonite. They bring a lot of basketball knowledge and experience and make the game fun for the players,” added Huff.

Huff is an owner/commissioner of a youth basketball league in Clarke County Virginia as well as serving as a park supervisor for Clarke County Parks and Recreation.