Mark Keenan to step down as Ireland men's basketball head coach
MARK KEENAN IS stepping down as the Ireland men's basketball head coach after six years in the role.
Keenan said: 'I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as Ireland head coach, it's been a great honour to lead my national team. It's now time to pass on the torch to the next head coach to build on what we've achieved over the last six years.'
Keenan was appointed in 2019 and led Ireland to trophy success, winning the 2021 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. That tournament victory helped send Ireland into the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualifiers, where the team claimed home and away victories over both Cyprus and Luxembourg.
Advertisement
Keenan subsequently led the side into the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 pre-qualifiers – the first time an Irish side has competed at World Cup level. The team came close to advancing to the next round, having achieved three wins, twice against Azerbaijan and a home victory against Kosovo.
Keenan stated: 'There have been so many highs, including winning the 2021 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries in Dublin. Leading our return to FIBA EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers was a big task, but one I and the rest of my coaching staff relished, picking up four wins over Cyprus and Luxembourg, who were both ranked higher than us.'
He added: 'Our two home wins last November during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Pre-Qualifiers and the atmosphere at those games will also live long in the memory and we came so close to advancing to the next stage of qualifying, with three wins overall.'
The decision follows a meeting between Keenan, Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan and Deirdre Brennan, chair of the Elite Performance Committee, where all parties 'agreed it was time for a change,' according to a statement from Basketball Ireland.
Brennan praised Keenan's contribution to Irish basketball.
She said: 'Mark has left a legacy with Irish basketball and on behalf of the EPC I'd like to thank him for his outstanding service as head coach of the Irish senior men's team over the last six years, giving us so many wonderful moments.'
Feehan said: 'Mark Keenan has given so much to Irish international basketball. As a player he won the FIBA Promotions Cup in 1994 and then 25 years later he was head coach as the team lifted the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, a remarkable feat.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tributes paid following shock passing of Sharlene Mawdsley's father Thomas
Tributes have begun to pour in following the shock passing of Thomas Mawdsley, the father of Irish Olympic star Sharlene Mawdsley. Thomas passed away tragically on Tuesday, just days after his daughter competed in a high-profile sprint event in Philadelphia. And a number of tributes have been paid following the shock passing with Athletics Ireland releasing a statement. In a statement issued to the Sunday World, the organisation said: "On behalf of all the Athletics Ireland family I express our sincere condolences to the Mawdsley family. Sharlene, we are here to support you during this difficult period and our thoughts and prayers are with you.' Thomas is predeceased by his father, Tom, and brother, Billy. His death notice says that he will be sadly missed by his partner Louise, mother Sally, sons, daughters, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family. Thomas will rest at Meehan's Funeral Home in Newport this Friday from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The funeral mass will take place at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Newport on Saturday at 11.30 am, followed by burial at Rockvale Cemetery in Newport.
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Ex-Munster and Ireland U20 wing to feature on new season of Love Island
FORMER MUNSTER WING Conor Phillips will be among the contestants on the 12th season of Love Island, which will air from next Monday, 9 June. Phillips, 25, will follow in the footsteps of another Limerick man and former Ireland Sevens player Greg O'Shea, who won the fifth season of the reality show in 2019. Advertisement Phillips, a former Ireland U20 international who made two appearances for Munster during their 2022/23 URC title-winning season, is one of two Irish contestants in this summer's series, with Dublin actor and pantomime actress Megan Forte Clarke also 'entering the villa'. A Munster Senior Cup winner with Young Munster in 2022, Phillips made his senior competitive debut for Munster that same year, starting on the right wing for their URC Round 3 victory at home to Zebre. He also started the away defeat to Connacht a week later but was released by Graham Rowntree at the end of the season. Phillips in action for Ireland against Kenya during this year's Singapore Sevens. Joe Hamby / INPHO Joe Hamby / INPHO / INPHO Phillips, who won an U20 Six Nations Grand Slam with Ireland in 2019, also represented his country on the World Rugby Sevens Series in 2021 and this year. Phillips played in a Munster Schools Senior Cup final with Crescent College Comprehensive in 2016 before going on to study Exercise and Health Fitness in UL. After moving to Dublin upon the completion of his degree, he linked up with Terenure, reaching the 2024 AIL Division 1A final at the Aviva Stadium where the D6W side were edged out by Cork Con.
Dublin Live
3 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Irish sports star joins Love Island 2025 cast after last-minute shake-up
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Irish sports star has officially joined the Love Island 2025 cast - after a shock last-minute shake-up saw one original Islander pulled from the line-up just days before launch. Kyle Ashman was set to enter the villa in Mallorca alongside 11 other sexy singletons - but he was suddenly axed from the line-up over a previous arrest yesterday. An ITV spokesperson confirmed: "For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island Villa as planned". And now, in a surprise twist, 25-year-old professional rugby player Conor Phillips from Limerick has swooped in to take his place. The former Munster Academy man, who was part of Ireland's Grand Slam winning under-20 squad in 2019, made two senior appearances for the province in the 2022/23 season. He now plays in the All-Island League for Terenure, and he has also appeared for Ireland's Sevens side - much like fellow Limerick man and former Love Island winner Greg O'Shea. The confident winger says he's after "someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic" - and revealed he doesn't mind "a dominant woman". But don't expect him to be clingy. "I don't like to answer to anyone else. I like to do my own thing", he admitted, adding that being "too needy" is his biggest ick. He described himself as the "class clown type vibe", and joked his love life would be called 'Still Trying' - "it's got to be a rugby pun, hasn't it?" And while he says he'd be "keeping my head above water" in the dating world, he's ready to settle down and "invest in some stocks". As for his flirting style? "I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby… it doesn't work, but it gets them laughing." Conor becomes the second Irish contestant confirmed for this year's Love Island series, which kicks off Monday, June 9 on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Play. He'll be joined by Megan Forte, a 24-year-old musical theatre performer and panto star originally from Dublin. Now living in Brighton, Megan describes herself as bubbly and is looking for a man with a great sense of humour - and says she's more than happy with a "dad bod". The full 2025 cast includes Almia Gagigo, Helena Ford, Megan, Megan Moore, Shakira Khan and Sophie Lee, who will be coupling up with Conor, Ben Holbrough, Bly Chegini, Dejon Noel-Williams, Harry Cooksley and Tommy Bradley. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
