Keatts explained to Cobb just how he ended up at that table

If that sounds like a question that would begin a typical job interview, it's because it was -- sort of. Kevin Keatts, a second-year assistant coach at Louisville, was asked that question while sitting across a narrow table from Charlie Cobb, the athletic air max sale director from Appalachian State, last week at a downtown Marriott in Minneapolis. The exchange was the opening volley for Keatts' stint in the "Speed Dating" sessions that were part of Villa 7, a Nike-produced networking fest that sought to introduce up-and-coming assistant coaches to potential employers.

Keatts explained to Cobb just how he ended up at that table. He grew up in Lynchburg, Va., played a little ball at Division III Ferrum College, started his coaching cheap nike air max career as an assistant at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, spent two years as an assistant at Marshall, was hired back by Hargrave to be a head coach ("I tricked 'em into hiring me," he quipped), and then two years ago was plucked by Rick Pitino to join him at Louisville -- where, of course, Keatts' team won the NCAA championship last month. His primary focus at Louisville nike max 90 is recruiting, so when Cobb asked what he looked for in a prospect, Keatts had a ready answer. "The first thing I look for is character," he said. "We won this year because we had character kids. Their true character shows on the basketball court."