O'Keefe tabbed as new Saint Viator coach

Saint Viator High School has announced the hiring of Michael O'Keeffe, a 2007 graduate of the school, as the new head coach of the Lions; varsity boys basketball team.

O'Keeffe works as a counselor at Wheeling High School and has spent the last five years leading the Wildcat basketball program.

"We are very excited about the vision Michael has for the future of our boys basketball program," said Saint Viator athletic director Jason Kuffel. "He has done an incredible job improving the culture and overall program at Wheeling and as a former Saint Viator student, Michael understands our Viatorian values, reputation for athletic excellence, and commitment to shaping strong men on and off the court."

O'Keeffe has been coaching at the high school level since 2011. His Wheeling team won the 2019 Battle at the Ridge Thanksgiving Tournament - the first tournament championship in Wheeling basketball history. Five Wheeling basketball players have gone on to play at the collegiate level during his five-year tenure as head coach.

After graduating from Saint Viator, O'Keeffe earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in School Counseling from Lewis University.

"I am passionate about leading and teaching all student-athletes academically, spiritually, socially and on the court," said O'Keeffe. "My goal at Saint Viator is to build on the success of the basketball program by emphasizing hard work, integrity, sacrifice and toughness, and creating champions in the classroom, on the basketball court and in the community."

O'Keefe will take over for Quin Hayes, who after six years as Saint Viator's head coach, left for that same job at Glenbrook North. In his tenure at Saint Viator, Hayes amassed a record of 123-58, making three sectional championship game appearances and one supersectional visit.

Saint Viator finished this past season 22-9 and had reached a Class 3A sectional title game before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season.