Keane has been announced as the Head Coach of Connacht for the 2017/18 season, having signed three-year contract.
With a lifetime of coaching experience in New Zealand, the former All Black joins Connacht from the Chiefs, where is currently works as Assistant Coach to Dave Rennie. With Keane heading up the attack, the Super Rugby side scored an impressive 76 tries in 17 games during the 2016 campaign.
Keane, a former school teacher, also had a spell as Assistant Coach to Jamie Joseph at the Highlanders from 2011 to 2012 but it was in his role as Head Coach of the Tasman Makos that the man, more commonly known as KK, made his greatest mark. After a difficult few years punctuated by financial problems, he helped Tasman become a major force on the provincial scene.
During his tenure with the Makos, Keane led the team to an ITM Cup Championship victory and promotion into the Premiership in 2013. The following year, he took them to the premiership final, which they ultimately lost to Taranaki. As well as shaping their attacking style of rugby, Keane helped promote more than 15 players to Super Rugby during his time with the province.
Keane coached the New Zealand U-16 and U-17 age grade sides for seven years as well as the Marlborough and Hawkes Bay NPC sides. A centre in his youth, he played six times for the All Blacks in 1979, represented Canterbury for 10 seasons and played for New Zealand Universities.
Following the 2017/18 season, Connacht confirmed that they would part ways with Keane with immediate effect. Keane won 7 of his 21 Pro14 matches while in charge of the club and made the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup where his side was beaten by Gloucester. Keane went back to New Zealand where he took up the head coach role of Mitre 10 Cup side, North Harbour
Career
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Hawke's Bay Coach |
2002 - 2004 |
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Highlanders Coach |
2011 - 2012 |
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Tasman Mako Coach |
2009 - 2016 |
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Chiefs Coach |
2016 - 2017 |
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Connacht Rugby Coach |
2017 - 2018 |
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North Harbour Head Coach |
2019 - 2024 |
