TEMPE, Ariz.— Brad Keenan has been named the head coach of the Sun Devil beach volleyball program, it was announced today by ASU Director of Volleyball Stevie Mussie.
“I am thrilled Brad is joining the Sun Devil family,” Mussie said. “His volleyball resume has more than prepared him to lead our beach program into the new era of Sun Devil Volleyball. Throughout the interview process, his name kept coming up, and people at the highest levels of volleyball across the country spoke very highly of him and his abilities. When he stepped on campus, everything I heard prior to his arrival was confirmed, and there is no doubt in my mind he belongs here in Tempe leading our student-athletes. I look forward to watching him take our program to the next level.”
Keenan made his professional beach volleyball debut in 2006, and has since earned 25 top-three finishes on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour. He was named the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and earned Most Improved Player accolades in 2007. In 2014 he was recognized as the AVP’s Best Server. He also spent seven years with the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), from 2009-15.
“I want to thank Stevie for giving me the opportunity to lead the beach volleyball program at ASU,” Keenan said. “I am super excited to get to work with the incredible student-athletes, and build on the recent success of the program.”
Keenan joined the Concordia University men’s volleyball program in 2015, where he earned his Master’s in Exercise and Sports Science. He has also served as a volunteer assistant with the USA Women’s National Team, Balboa Bay Volleyball Club, Surf City Volleyball Club, and with the Fountain Valley High School Varsity Volleyball program.
Keenan was a four-time AVCA All-American and two-time National Player of the Year at Pepperdine, where he was a middle blocker from 2000-03. He finished his career as the record holder in blocks and service aces and earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting. In 2014, Keenan was inducted into the Pepperdine Hall of Fame.
Keenan is married to Olympian and silver medal winner April Ross.
Sun Devil Athletics added beach volleyball as a varsity sport on July 9, 2013. The Sand Devils, who compete at The PERA Club, recently completed their second season and competed in the first-ever Pac-12 Beach Volleyball Championship in April.