Kevin Keatts says farewell to Mike Brey, recalls memories

NC State and Notre Dame squared off on Saturday in a game where the Wolfpack were able to pull out a narrow 85-82 win over the Irish. But with Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey announcing his retirement following the season, Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts opened the post-game press conference by giving his respects to one of the greatest.

“First of all, what a class act that Mike Brey is and we’re gonna, and I say we as in ACC coaches, are gonna miss him in a big way. I got to know mike when I was at Louisville and we played in the Big East where they never called any fouls, just so y’all know that,”,” Keatts smiled and said getting a laugh out of the room.

Keatts and Brey have a longtime history and friendship, as Keatts shared an anecdote from the coaching against him in the past.

“A great story about him, I don’t know if it was our championship year or our Final Four year, but played him. I think it was four, five overtimes and we’re over there going crazy, like we’re pissed off that it’s going to overtime and Mike Brey’s just looking at us laughing his ass off. He’s happy like come on guys and all that other stuff, and then I knew, I said that’s my type of guy,” Keats said. “So he’s been great in the meetings, he’s done a lot for college basketball, he’s done a lot for Notre Dame, he’s done a lot for ACC. And hopefully, he’s getting a chance to go out on his own so I’m just proud of him.”

Keatts didn’t stop there, sharing a personal conversation the two had when he announced his retirement that included a hilarious joke from Brey.

“Well first of all, I text him right when I heard he was gonna retire, and he won’t mind me saying this because I usually don’t share texts, but he’s so cool. He’s like thank you K, I love your team see you Tuesday, I might be drunk at the game though,” Keatts said.

Keatts made sure to emphasize that Brey was joking, as Notre Dame’s longest-tenured coach in program history will finally walk off into the sunset when the season concludes.

“Now he wasn’t drunk at the game, just so everybody knows that,” ,” Keatts said clearing the air on the jokes. “So first thing, I looked at him and was like man are you drunk and he just laughed. But no I just told him congratulations, enjoy your time, sometimes when people go into retirement as a coach people always think there’s something else behind it. The guy’s done a great job, he’s coached for a long time and now he can enjoy life.”