Keith Allen, Head Football Coach
Statement of Faith | Coach's Blog | CoachAllen.com
Plaster Athletic Center #201
Bolivar, MO 65613
Keith Allen was
hired on June 26th, 2007 as head football coach of the Bearcats. He
spent the previous two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive
coordinator.
In just two seasons, Allen has guided the Bearcats to a tremendous turnaround. The football 'Cats improved from a winless season in 2007 to a 5-6 mark in 2008, their first year as an independent. The 2008 Bearcats were on the verge of greater things, with a few close losses separating them from a potential 8-3 campaign. The 2008 squad set numerous school records including most points, most offensive yards and most passing yards in a season.
At the time of Allen's hiring, SBU director of
athletics Brent Good commented, "We are confident that Keith and his staff will bring quality
leadership to all facets of the football program, not limited to the
playing field, but extending to the student-athletes’ academic, social,
and spiritual growth in accordance with the principles and expectations
of Southwest Baptist University.”
He brought a strong knowledge of the game to SBU from several NCAA Division I programs.
Allen came here from San Jose State after being with the Spartans for three seasons. San Jose State competes in the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) and has had one of the top special teams the past three years. Allen’s special teams finished in the top half in net punting, punt and kickoff returns, and field goals made in the WAC. In the 2002 season, Allen coached the NCAA Division I-A kickoff return champion in Charles Pauley. Twice, at SJSU, his kickoff return team finished in the top 12 of the nation.
Allen has coached seven players that have gone on to play professional football: James Jones, Tyson Thompson, Charles Pauley, Marcus Helfman, Jamall Broussard, Pat Dennis, and Kelly Gregg. Pauley is with the San Jose Sabercats in the Arena Football League and Helfman played for the Scottish Claymores in the NFL Europe. Both Broussard and Dennis have been in the NFL as they signed free agent contracts with the Houston Texans. Gregg is now with the Baltimore Ravens.
Allen received first coordinator position in 2000 when he moved to Quincy University in Quincy, IL. He was the defensive and special teams coordinator while also working with the defensive backs. Prior to Quincy, Allen coached at three NCAA Division I universities. He started out at Oklahoma in 1997 with the defensive line, then moved to NE Louisiana in 1998 to work with the defensive backs. He moved to Texas Christian for the 1998 and 1999 seasons where he was the director of recruiting and assistant director of football operations. While at TCU, he went to two bowl games in the 1998 Sun Bowl and the 1999 GMAC Mobile Bowl. He received his Master of Liberal Arts degree in 2000 from TCU.
Allen broke into coaching at the University of Oklahoma. He was a student assistant coach from 1994 through 1997. In his first year, he worked with strength and conditioning and then moved up to the defensive line in his final two years at OU. After graduating with a civil engineering degree in 1997, he stayed on at OU for a year as a graduate assistant and worked with the defensive line.
Allen and his wife Melissa have a three year old son J.D. They reside in Bolivar and attend First Baptist Church of Bolivar.
Coaching Stops for Allen
| University | Division | Year | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Baptist | NCAA Division II | 2007-present | Head Football Coach |
| Southwest Baptist | NCAA Division II | 2005-2006 | Asst. Head Coach/ Def. Coord./ Special Teams Coord./ Recruiting Coord. |
| San Jose State | NCAA Division I | 2002-2005 | Special Teams Coordinator/ Co- Recruiting Coordinator/ Safeties |
| Quincy Univ. | NCAA Division II | 2000-2002 | Asst. Head Coach/ Def. Coord./ Special Teams Coord./ Recruiting Coord. |
| Texas Christian | NCAA Division I | 1998-2000 | Director of Recruiting / Asst. Director of Football Operations |
| NE Louisiana | NCAA Division I | 1997-1998 | Defensive Backs |
| Oklahoma | NCAA Division I | 1997 | Defensive Line - Graduate Asst. |
| Oklahoma | NCAA Division I | 1996 | Defensive Line - Student Asst. |
| Oklahoma | NCAA Division I | 1995 | Strength and Conditioning - Student Asst. |
Players in Professional Football Coached by Allen
| Name | School | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Pauley | San Jose State | San Jose Sharks (Arena) |
| James Jones | San Jose State | Green Bay Packers |
| Tyson Thompson | San Jose State | Dallas Cowboys |
| Marcus Helfman | San Jose State | Scottish Claymores (NFL Europe) |
| Jamall Broussard | San Jose State | Houston Texans (NFL) |
| Pat Dennis | NE Louisiana | Houston Texans (NFL) |
| Kelly Gregg | Oklahoma | Baltimore Ravens (NFL) |
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