About Coach Billy Key

Coach Key holds a bachelor’s in education from Central Missouri State University and a master’s in health and physical education from Washington University in St. Louis.  He came to Rolla in 1964 from Nicholls State University.  A past president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, Key won more games than any basketball coach in school history.  In 23 seasons at the helm of the Miner program, he posted a record of 279-278 and won 387 games in 29 years as a collegiate head coach; he won over 500 games with his high school coaching records included.  He led the Miners to two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and the 1976 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.  He served as the university’s director of athletics from 1967 until his retirement in 1990.  Key was active in the NABC, serving on the board of directors and as national chair of the All-America Committee, then served as president of the organization for the 1985-86 season.  Key, who is a member of the Central Missouri State University Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the MIAA Hall of Fame was inducted in the Miner Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.  Billy and Naomi have been married for over 65 years and live in Seguin, Texas.  They have two grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.