Stephen F. Austin taps Texas A&M assistant Kyle Keller as men's basketball coach

Recommended Video:

Texas A&M's best basketball season in nearly a decade has been great for improving the program's visibility and reputation, but it has also left head coach Billy Kennedy short on assistants.

Eight days after Rick Stansbury left to be the head coach of Western Kentucky, Kennedy's staff suffered another loss.

Kyle Keller has been named the 12th coach of the Stephen F. Austin men's basketball team, Director of Athletics Robert Hill announced Monday.

Keller will replace Brad Underwood, who accepted the position of head men's basketball coach at Oklahoma State following the Lumberjacks' second round exit from the NCAA Tournament.

"Kyle brings a wealth of experience having worked for great coaches like Eddie Sutton, Bill Self and Billy Kennedy. This experience will fit well to continue our SFA basketball culture of winning championships and making NCAA tournament appearances," Hill said. "He cares deeply for his players and is a wonderful husband and father. We are so happy he has agreed to become a Lumberjack. I look forward to having our fans and students get to know him."

Keller spent five seasons under Kennedy in College Station. Regarded as an exceptional recruiter, he helped the Aggies land the No. 4 class in the nation in 2015.

A&M finished 28-9 in 2015-16, earning a share of the SEC regular season championship for the first time in school history. The Aggies made a run to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007 before falling to No. 2 seed Oklahoma.

Texas A&M men’s basketball assistant coach poses with his family, wife Chaunsea, daughter Kenzie and son Kemper, at Kyle Field in College Station in 2015. Texas A&M men’s basketball assistant coach poses with his family, wife Chaunsea, daughter Kenzie and son Kemper, at Kyle Field in College Station in 2015. Photo: Courtesy Photo /Keller Family Photo: Courtesy Photo /Keller Family Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Stephen F. Austin taps Texas A&M assistant Kyle Keller as men's basketball coach 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Keller inherits a program that has dropped one Southland Conference game in three seasons to go along with an .859 winning percentage since 2012-13.

The Lumberjacks have made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, earning a reputation as a "giant killer" following upsets over fifth-seeded VCU in 2014 and third-seeded West Virginia this season.

Keller will be formally introduced during a press conference Friday.

nmoyle@express-news.net

Twitter: @NRmoyle