Bob Keefe comes out of retirement to coach Belleville West tennis squad

BY DEAN CRIDDLE - News-Democrat

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BELLEVILLE -- The competitive fire which made Belleville native Bob Keefe the premier high school girls tennis coach in the entire state is apparently still smoldering.

Keefe, who retired from teaching and coaching in 2006 after 31 spectacular years at Belleville West, will return to lead the Maroons program again this fall, it was announced this week by school officials.

A member of the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame and two time Illinois High School Tennis Association Coach of the Year, Keefe takes over the coaching duties from one of his former players -- Tricia Altmansberger.

Altmansberger led the Maroons to their 25th straight Illinois High School Association sectional championship last year.

Keefe helped out a year ago when Altmansberger had her first child and also did the same two years ago when then coach Becky Brunner also had her first baby.

"I met with (Belleville West) athletic director Bill Schmidt and I just decided to come back. I've been around the program the last two years helping out when Becky and Tricia were coaching and I know the players because I've worked with them," Keefe said. "I'm not sure how long I want to coach.

"All I know is that I'm here now and I think we'll have a strong team."

In his prior 31-year stint, Keefe led the Maroons to an unbelievable dual match record of 325-32 and won 25 Southwestern Conference titles.

Keefe has spent the last two years coaching the boys team at Waterloo High School where his brother, Rick Keefe, was the athletic director for the Bulldogs' program.

"It took some getting used too after coaching the girls for 31 years," Keefe said about coaching the boys at Waterloo. "But it was an enjoyable time.

"The kids worked hard and we had some success," Keefe added. "We were able to advance a doubles team to the state meet and that was nice."

The 2010 Maroons girls squad will be led by three top seniors in Ali Chadwick, Bri Schaefer and Kally Boyles. Several top juniors and sophomores will help provide quality depth for the Belleville West squad.

Contact reporter Dean Criddle at 239-2665 or dcriddle@bnd.com.

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