LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State men’s basketball legend Billy Keys will return to the men’s basketball program as an assistant in 2022-23.
Keys will join first-year head coach Greg Heiar’s staff as the team’s video coordinator, the schedule announced Thursday afternoon. Keys will join assistant Dominique Taylor, director of basketball operations Chad Donley and director of player development Darin Graham as the fourth member of Heiar’s first team at Las Cruces.
“Really thrilled to announce former NMSU player Billy Keys as the next member of our coaching staff. I couldn’t think of a better person and former player to hire in this role,” Heiar said in a statement. “Billy had a genuine passion and love for the State of New Mexico and this community. His outgoing personality and energy will be a great addition to what we are building here.”
Keys played two seasons for the Aggies in the late 90s and scored over 1,000 career points, averaging over 17 points per game and helping lead NMSU to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999. He racked up 160 and 150 assists in his two respective seasons with the Aggies, both of which remain in the all-time top 10 for single-season assists at NMSU. He also led the team in steals in both of his seasons.
Keys then played 14 seasons professionally overseas before returning to the United States as a coach, where he coached locally at Centennial High as an assistant and later as a head coach at Mayfield High. . He left Mayfield to become associate head coach at Northern New Mexico College in 2018, where he has spent the past three seasons.
“He brings great playing experience which will translate into a great mentor for our young men,” Heiar said. “Glad to have Billy back as Aggie!”
Heiar has yet to name an associate head coach and additional assistant coach to his team. Heiar told the Sun-News that he “takes (his) time for everything” when it comes to building his squad.
Stephen Wagner is a sports reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can found on Twitter at @stephenwag22 and reached at SWagner@lcsun-news.com.
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