The head coach of perhaps Indiana's greatest high school basketball dynasty announced his retirement Thursday. Jack Keefer is stepping aside at
Lawrence North (Indianapolis) after 46 years on the bench at the school and four more prior to that at
Oak Hill (Converse), his alma mater.
Keefer is best known for leading teams starring Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. to three straight Class 4A state titles from 2004-06. The Wildcats went 82-4 during that stretch, winning 50 in a row at one point.
Oden was the first-ever recipient of MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors in 2006.
Keefer's career record was 865-338 and he won another state crown in 1989 with Eric Montross, who went on to star at North Carolina and played eight years in the NBA.
Lawrence North remained a perennial contender in the post-Oden/Conley years, posting winning seasons in 15 of 16 subsequent years with a state semifinal (semi-state) appearance in 2021.
Jack Keefer instructs his Wildcats during a game against Noblesville last November.
Photo by Kent Graham
