Only four head coaches have led NC State men’s basketball to the Final Four — Everett Case, Norm Sloan, Jim Valvano and now, Kevin Keatts. By concocting one of the greatest runs in college basketball history, steering the Wolfpack to its first ACC title win and Final Four appearance since the 1980s, Keatts cemented his legacy in Raleigh last season. After pulling off the impossible and stunning the world of college basketball, Keatts has the opportunity to establish NC State as a premier program.

Successfully navigating challenging waters the past two seasons, including new rules in college athletics and a frustrated fanbase, Keatts is set for a new chapter.

With an ACC championship trophy and Final Four appearance, Keatts is no longer coaching for his job. He’s coaching for championships.

While Duke and North Carolina are considered the favorites for the ACC, make no mistake — Keatts’ Wolfpack will be ready to go head-to-head with its triangle rivals. The Pack went 5-5 against the Blue Devils and Tar Heels over the past two seasons and isn’t planning on taking a backseat this year.

Now entering his eighth season with the Wolfpack, Keatts is one of the more familiar faces in the ACC. As the conference’s fourth longest-tenured head coach, Keatts has seen everything, from lifting the ACC championship trophy to finishing last in the conference. With a vast wealth of experience, Keatts can and has proven that he can lead a team through its highs and lows.

This season, Keatts has the opportunity to accomplish something that the Wolfpack has lacked for too long: sustained success. Another NCAA tournament appearance would be Keatts’ third straight, a feat that hasn’t happened in Raleigh since 2015. After decades of inconsistency since the Valvano era, being an annual competitor in the NCAA Tournament would be a welcome sight for Wolfpack fans.

Additionally, a tournament appearance would prove that Keatts can win with a variety of different talents. In 2023, Keatts’ squad was guard-centric, led by Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith, while last season the red-and-white was anchored by Burns in the paint. This year’s team is expected to be a defensively strong group, led by players like senior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and senior guard Jayden Taylor.

NC State has shown flashes of potential, but it has never had a launching pad like its run to the Final Four. If the red-and-white takes its momentum and builds on it, watch out. Keatts has proven to have an eye for transfer portal talent, bringing in stars like Joiner and Burns. With the constant turnover and importance of the transfer portal, Keatts is positioned for success with his talent evaluation ability and momentum after last season.

Will Keatts lead the Wolfpack to an ACC championship again?

Maybe he will or maybe he won’t, but the red-and-white will certainly be in the conversation again. The Wolfpack loaded up on transfer portal talent and challenged itself with a strong schedule for this season, setting up an incredible opportunity for Keatts and the Wolfpack to further elevate NC State basketball. The ACC Championship and Final Four was just one chapter of the book — and Keatts is ready to write the next.