Cabrini University Athletics

Who would have thought that two boys from Sharon Hill and Folcroft would become lifelong friends and two of the pillars of Cabrini University men’s basketball?

Michael Keeley and Joseph Kelly grew up around the corner from each other and played on independent sports teams throughout their youth.  Both went to Bonner High School and entered the coaching ranks of various sports soon thereafter.

When former head coach and Hall of Famer John Dzik got the Cabrini job in 1980, among his first calls were to Keeley and Kelly to join his staff.  While Kelly and Keeley had little knowledge of Cabrini and no collegiate experience, Dzik knew that together, the trio could build Cabrini into a power.

That is just what they did over the next 25 years, leading the Cavaliers to 483 victories, including eight Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) championships and nine NCAA Tournament appearances.    

Keeley and Kelly used their years of friendship to help create a family atmosphere in the program and their passion for the game to build a program.

As the team got better on the court, the program was able to attract better talent, which led to a higher profile for the program, the athletic department and the College.

They helped recruit standout student-athletes to what was once just known as the “small Catholic college” in Radnor and helped develop Cabrini into the institution it is today.

What stood out most about Keeley and Kelly is the fact that over their 25 years on the Cabrini bench, they were never paid.  Both put their time and sweat into building a successful program while remaining volunteers.

Both worked full-time jobs to support their families and sacrificed family dinners and vacation time to work five months of long days, representing Cabrini basketball.

But, why, one might ask. Just as they had preached among their program, the trio was a family. Keeley and Kelly never had a thought about leaving Coach Dzik’s sideline. Perhaps the most important reason continues today, as Coaches Keeley and Kelly continue to watch their players evolve, building their own families with some of the lessons they learned as Cavaliers.