Keith Beckett
Director of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation

Phone: (330) 263-2189
e-mail: kbeckett@wooster.edu

After a highly successful career as The College of Wooster’s head swimming coach as well as director of aquatics and professor of physical education, Keith Beckett is in his sixth year as the school’s director of athletics.

Beckett, who took over the position Aug. 1, 2003, is responsible for the administration and supervision of intercollegiate and intramural athletics, recreational programs, and athletic facilities, as well as the instructional programs and academic minor in the Department of Physical Education.

During his tenure thus far as athletic director, Wooster’s 22 varsity teams have combined to win 16 North Coast Athletic Conference championships and several have made a splash on the national scene. Among the many accomplishments have been the baseball and men’s basketball teams competing in their respective NCAA Div. III Tournaments each of the last five seasons, highlighted by baseball placing third overall in 2005 and basketball advancing to the “Final Four” in 2007. Additionally, the women’s swimming team finished as high as seventh in the nation in 2004 and women’s track tied for 23rd-place in 2007; the women’s lacrosse squad hosted an NCAA tourney game for the first time in program history in 2004 and its male counterparts reached their first NCAA Tournament that same year; and the football team made the NCAA field in 2004, hosting two games along the way. In terms of the 10-team conference’s All-Sports Standings, the Fighting Scots have finished below fifth just twice during Beckett’s tenure and took third in 2004-05.

From 1984-2003, Beckett developed the Scots’ swim program into one of the best in NCAA Division III. During his 19-year run as coach, the women’s team turned in a remarkable record of 142-22-1, and he guided it to 15 top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships, highlighted by three school-best fifth-place finishes (1986, 1987, 2003). Beckett’s men’s teams were nearly as successful, going 111-51 in dual- and tri-meets and scoring at seven national meets.

Highly active in the swim community, Beckett has been the meet director for eight NCAA Championships (1995 men, 1997 men and women, 1999 women, 2002 men and women, and 2008 men and women) and served as meet coordinator for several other championships. He was a member of the NCAA rules and championship committee, including the chair in 2001-02.

Currently, he is a member of the NCAA Div. III Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, and in 2007, he traveled to Cairo, Egypt as a consultant for the American University in Cairo, advising college officials from the university on physical education, athletic programming, and facility operations.

Prior to coming to Wooster, Beckett was assistant director of aquatics at his alma mater – Indiana University of Pennsylvania – and a health and physical education instructor in the Indiana Area School District from 1980-84.

Beckett earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s in exercise physiology, both from I.U.P. Later, he completed a Ph.D. in sports pedagogy and exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Beckett and his wife, Julie Gingery Beckett, a teacher at Kean Elementary School, have three children and live in Wooster. Beckett also has a daughter from a previous marriage.