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Keinath, a 2000 grad of DHS, takes over for Dave Bitzer, who had just a one-year stint with the Eagles' varsity.

Since Jeff Long left as coach and teacher after Ô98-99 campaign, Deckerville has had short stints at the boys' hoops reigns from Bill Thayer, Leon Westover, Keith Loss, and Bitzer.

Scott McVittie, an Athletic Director at Deckerville, wants to see some stability.

"That is what we need - to get somebody in here that will be here and stay here," said McVittie.

Keinath, who works in the family farming business, has some limited coaching experience. A few years ago he spent one season as JV assistant to Cory Schumacher and, then, last season, he was Bitzer's varsity assistant. Ironically, Schumacher will be Keinath's varsity assistant this winter.

"I wish (Coach Bitzer) would have stayed around another year because that would give me more experience," noted Keinath. But, he also knows what he wants to do. "I want to get our defense back. It'll be a lot more man-to-man, and it will take a lot of work.

"Also, I'd like to run the floor more, but I don't know how much we can do that yet," Keinath said. "This will be a learning year for me. We'll see what these guys can do and how much they want it."

McVittie knows that the new hire will not have it easy, and added, "It'll be rough to start....but I think he'll do a good job. The intentions are to get a coach in here who is going to make it the long haul and, hopefully, build a program."

Bitzer, who was hired as an elementary teacher and coach at Deckerville last summer, came from some very successful football and basketball programs at Unionville-Sebewaing Area and was expected to bring that knowledge and experience to DHS. However, soon into the school year, Deckerville was forced to make some financial cuts and Bitzer lost his teaching position. He remained on as the boys hoops head coach over the winter and the Eagles, although they had a losing season, were respectable on the court with some improved defense and a little more up-tempo style.

Bitzer has quickly landed back on his feet and will be teaching in the USA school district and is expected to be named the new coach of a talented Lady Patriots varsity basketball squad this school year.

And, Keinath has a solid supporter in Coach Bitzer.

"Steve's a very hard worker. He put in a countless number of hours last year. Anytime he could come in early and work with the kids, he was there," lauded Bitzer.

Along with the hoops philosophy he picked up in the last year, Keinath said he learned a little more than that from Bitzer. "It's his attitude toward the team, the coach/player relationship." He added that this is something he wants to build with his squads.

Bitzer also remarked, "My philosophy is that is that if you are going to teach something, make sure the kids understand why you're doing it. If they understand the reasons why we're doing those things, they are going to trust in it that much more."

The hoops program has been dotted with more sub-.500 seasons in the bigger part of the last two decades. The only title in the 18 years was a GTC East co-championship in the 1998-99 season, when Keinath was a 6'3" junior post player on the team.

Football has been king in boys sports at DHS for nearly 30 years now with lots of championships over the span. What is noticeable in that time are two, long coaching regimes - the first from Bob Staskiewicz (now in the MHSFCA Hall of Fame) from 1977 through 1988 and the next from Bill Brown from 1993 to the present. Staskiewicz began the tradition and Brown has continued it. The stability and consistency of the program stands out.

Keinath was also a standout football player at Deckerville and knows Brown's long tenure has helped. "The biggest thing is that Coach Brown has been around a long time, working with his program for years and years," Keinath said. "I think if I have that many years, I think I can turn this program around."