Gene Keady's coaching career started after a short stint in the NFL. With his football player days over, Keady returned to Kansas in 1959 where he accepted a teaching and coaching position at a high school. The only coaching position open at the school was for the basketball team. In 1964, he earned his master's degree in education from Kansas State.

Keady began his college coaching career with Hutchinson Junior College. After only one year, Keady was promoted to take over the head coaching position. In 1975, Keady moved onto NCAA Division I college basketball as an assistant coach for Arkansas. Head coach Eddie Sutton and Keady made the Razorbacks into a perennial national contender. While at Arkansas, Keady gained fame for his impressive recruiting skills. Notable players recruited by Keady include Ron Brewer, Marvin Delph and Sidney Moncrief.

Following the third place finish in the 1978 NCAA tournament, Keady was ready to lead his own team to the tournament. In 1979, he accepted the position of head coach for Western Kentucky University.

Gene Keady then became the Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball head coach on April 11, 1980. Keady was the winningest coach in the school's history with 512 victories and second winningest coach in Big Ten Conference history, only behind former rival, Bob Knight, and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year seven times. He guided the Boilermakers to 6 Big Ten titles, including three straight outright crowns from 1994 through 1996. However, Keady was never able to win an NCAA championship in his career despite his success, nor reach a Final Four with Purdue.

Keady retired from coaching Purdue following the 2004–2005 season after leading Purdue to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. Mackey Arena's basketball court was named "Keady Court" in dedication to him.

In October 2010, newly hired St. John's coach Steve Lavin hired Keady to be his assistant coach. His main roles as an assistant to Lavin are breaking down game film and serving as a bench coach on game days.

Basketball, Sports Coach, Kansas, Sports Coaching