June 28, 200719 yr Author Kevin Keathley, 29, has been named head coach of the Miners. Keathley is one of the nation’s premier professional basketball coaches. :lol: In 2006, Pro Basketball News (http://www.probasketballnews.com) touted Keathley as one of the Top 10 young coaches in America.
June 28, 200719 yr Author Not just pro basketball either... Converge Entertainment, a Trinity subsidiary run by former MTV executive Nolan Baynes, is the exclusive entertainment partner of the CBA and is currently developing a series of concert tours featuring A-list artists. Each tour will include a stop at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center during the CBA season.
June 28, 200719 yr More info about the EKY Miners... http://www.news-expressky.com/articles/2007/06/28/sports/01coach.txt
June 28, 200719 yr I hope that the city of Pikeville and the Miners can make a go of this. Imo it would be great. I agree with others in that if they could get former U.K. players it would be a big plus for attendance and interest.
June 28, 200719 yr Didn't Louisville or some other city try the "UK/UL" route? Back in 1983-84 Louisville had a CBA Team called The Catbirds.They didn't last very Long.Seems like Tom Payne played for them or was going to.Time to see if I can Find some Google Info.:thumb:
June 28, 200719 yr Didn't Louisville or some other city try the "UK/UL" route? Here is some info about THe Catbirds. I was right about Tom Payne. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville_Catbirds
July 4, 200719 yr EAST KENTUCKY MINERS PIKEVILLE, KY. 41501 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 4, 2007 Miners open up press conference to fans Major announcements planned, tickets to go on sale PIKEVILLE, KY - Professional basketball has arrived in East Kentucky. The East Kentucky Miners professional basketball organization will hold a press conference on Thursday, July 19 at the East Kentucky Expo Center and everyone is invited. The East Kentucky Expo Center will host the Miners and serve as a home venue to the pro basketball franchise. Area basketball fans can attend the press conference as it is open to the public. Those fans who attend the press conference will have the opportunity to be the first to hear major announcements regarding the 2007-08 season, the debut campaign for the upstart East Kentucky Miners in the tradition-rich Continental Basketball Association (CBA), a league that has been home to some of the world's top basketball coaches and players. East Kentucky Miners team news, including player information, will be among the highlights of the historic event. Members of the Miners organization will be on hand to meet and greet fans. At the conclusion of the press conference, fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2007-08 season. Various ticket prices and packages will be offered. "On July 19, all of Eastern Kentucky has the opportunity to come out and be a part of this organization from day one," said Miners Coach Kevin Keathley, an Eastern Kentucky native. "We want the public to be a part of this very special event. This is the perfect opportunity to come and meet the staff of the East Kentucky Miners." Keathley brings added excitement to the first-year pro basketball team. Keathley was tabbed as one of the Top 10 young coaches in America in 2006 when Pro Basketball News released its highly-touted set of rankings. The East Kentucky head coach will deliver information on at least one signing during the press conference. East Kentucky residents who haven't had a chance to step inside and enjoy the state-of-the-art East Kentucky Expo Center will be able to do so during the East Kentucky Miner press conference. The East Kentucky team's front office is currently in the process of scheduling numerous promotional activities. Various team events are being planned for the remainder of the summer all the way through into the regular-season. These events will allow East Kentucky residents to interact with coaches, players and others within the organization. The Miners basketball organization gives all of Eastern Kentucky a professional sports franchise to call its own. Fans who venture out to watch the Miners will be treated to professional basketball from a professional organization. The East Kentucky Miners are a property of Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group, Inc. Ten-year NFL veteran Jay Fiedler and South Florida entrepreneur Demetrius Ford co-founded Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group. The East Kentucky Miners official website is located online at www.ekminers.com. The website is currently still under construction. For more information on the East Kentucky Miners, contact Coach Kevin Keathley (phone: 606/454-4432; email: [email protected]). ONLINE: www.ekminers.com www.triseg.com
July 7, 200719 yr EAST KENTUCKY MINERS PIKEVILLE, KY 41501 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 6, 2007 Former UK Wildcats value experience of playing for Keathley, tout coach's abilities PIKEVILLE, KY. - Words spoken from former University of Kentucky Wildcats carry much weight - not just in the Commonwealth but around the country. First-year East Kentucky Miners head coach Kevin Keathley has coached various college and professional basketball players. Keathley, set to lead the Miners into competition in their first season, has had the opportunity to mentor many Kentucky-born players, including a pair of former University of Kentucky Wildcats. When he was coaching in the ABA (American Basketball Association) and guiding the Kentucky Colonels, Keathley coached Anthony Epps and Antwain Barbour, two beloved former Kentucky Wildcats. Before he ever coached the Kentucky Colonels, Keathley had history with both players. In 2003, Keathley (coaching) and Epps (playing) teamed up to help lead the Louisville Eagles to a UPBL (United Pro Basketball League) championship. Barbour (playing), before even suiting up for the University of Kentucky, crossed paths with Keathley (coaching) on the junior college level. Each of the former UK standouts speak highly of the East Kentucky Miner head coach. "I have played on the highest levels in the game of basketball, and yet, I still learned a great deal from playing for Coach Keathley," Epps said in the Foreword to Hardwood Constitution - A Blueprint to Coaching Success, Keathley's book that was published in 2004. Epps was voted one of the top 50 greatest players in UK history. Second all-time in assists for the Wildcats, Epps was an All-SEC (Southeastern Conference) performer. The Lebanon, Ky., native was a member of the University of Kentucky's 1996 national championship unit. "Not only was he a coach, but he also became a friend," Epps added. "He would talk to us on a professional level. He didn't consider himself bigger or better than us. We were on the same level in his eyes and that made the playing experience very easy for us." While playing for Keathley, Epps was a two-year starter. Barbour, who came to UK after starring in the juco ranks at Wabash Valley College, holds Keathley in equally high regard. "Coach K is intensified," an energetic Barbour commented. "He's always ready to play. I've never seen him sit down." Like Epps, Barbour values Keathley's quality personal attributes in addition to his coaching traits. "On a personal side, he's a great friend - off of the court as well as on the court," Barbour, an Elizabethtown, Ky., native, commented. "I think with both of these guys - Anthony Epps and Antwain Barbour - what you have is two players who played for the Mecca of College Basketball and learned how to conduct themselves both on and off of the court," said Keathley. "I couldn't have been more grateful to have coached them." Keathley became acquainted with Louis Dampier, the ABA's all-time leader in scoring and assists during his stint with the Kentucky Colonels. At the time, Dampier was the team's Player Personnel Director. Dampier, one of the top players in pro basketball history, starred at the University of Kentucky as an All-American guard before putting together a storied professional career. As the East Kentucky Miners prepare to begin play in the CBA (Continental Basketball Association), Keathley hasn't ruled out an affiliation with one or more former University of Kentucky Wildcats. Keathley, who is currently in the process of securing and finalizing times for tryout camp sessions, has vowed to sign the top players to be a part of the East Kentucky pro basketball team in its debut season. For more information on the East Kentucky Miners, contact Coach Kevin Keathley (phone: 606/454-4432; email: [email protected]). ONLINE: www.ekminers.com www.triseg.com
July 7, 200719 yr Thanks 'ru. You bet, I think this is really cool. Also, thank Steve LeMaster for the updates if you run across him.
July 8, 200719 yr Author You bet, I think this is really cool. Also, thank Steve LeMaster for the updates if you run across him. :thumb:
July 8, 200719 yr Once again, anyone know if they hold tryouts or do they already have a team in place?
July 8, 200719 yr Author Once again, anyone know if they hold tryouts or do they already have a team in place? I think we find out all the particulars at the big press conference on July 19th at the Expo Center.
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