Bio

Keith Emery completed his 13^th season as head coach of the Western New England University football team in 2017.

After leading the Golden Bears to back-to-back New England Football Conference (NEFC) titles in 2015 and 2016, Western New England's run of success under Emery continued last fall, as the program captured the Commonwealth Coast Football championship in the first year of the rebranded league. The Golden Bears went a perfect 5-0 in CCC Football play and 8-3 overall with a challenging non-conference schedule that featured NCAA Tournament participants Springfield College, RPI, Husson, and first round opponent Delaware Valley. 

In addition to Western New England's success on the field, Emery was recognized for his team's continued dedication to community service when he was presented with the Community Spotlight Award at Revitalize CDC's 25th Anniversary Celebration on November 28 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Under Emery’s guidance, the already successful football program reached new heights in 2016, further cementing itself as the premier Division III program in New England. The Golden Bears followed up their historic 2015 campaign with another undefeated regular season in 2016, going 10-0 and 7-0 in conference play en route to the NEFC title in the final year of the league's existence. Western New England made program history with its 44-27 victory over Husson University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on November 19, marking the team's first win in three appearances. 

For the second consecutive season, 15 of Emery's student-athletes earned All-NEFC honors, including five that garnered All-Region accolades. Additionally, senior cornerback Obi Etuka became the program's first unanimous All-American with his selection to both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) teams. 

Western New England was ranked No. 1 in New England throughout the 2016 campaign, and the Golden Bears broke into the national rankings at No. 23 in the final AFCA Poll of the regular season. The team's final AFCA ranking of No. 21 also represented a program best. 

Emery was recognized as the NEFC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in 2016 before collecting Division II/Division III Coach of the Year honors from the New England Football Writers. 

The 2015 Golden Bears completed the first undefeated regular season in school history, going 10-0 on their way to the team’s second NEFC title since 2011 and second appearance in the NCAA DIII Tournament. Western New England, which spent five weeks ranked in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) DIII Poll, climbing as high as No. 19, also completed a wire-to-wire run atop the New England Sports Information Directors’ Poll. 

A program record 15 of Emery’s student-athletes were recognized with All-NEFC accolades, led by the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in graduate student quarterback Tyler Ward and junior cornerback Obi Etuka, respectively. Additionally, several players earned All-Region honors, highlighted by senior offensive lineman Kenneth Vollaro’s selection to the d3football.com All-East Region first team. Senior punter E.J. Franskevicz continued the football team’s strong academic tradition, becoming the program’s fourth Academic All-American in early December when he was voted to the CoSIDA first team.

Western New England’s historic season resulted in a slew of personal accolades for Emery, who was named the NEFC Coach of the Year, the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston DIII New England Coach of the Year, and the ECAC DIII New England Coach of the Year. 

The Enfield, Conn. native has a 78-46 career record (.629) after directing the Golden Bears to a 29-4 mark (.879) over the past three seasons.

A tireless recruiter and coach on the sidelines, Emery is also very active in community service in Greater Springfield. In 2011, the institution received a $10,000 check in recognition of the Rally Award win as part of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Coach of the Year contest. The Golden Bears have worked with Rebuilding Together to improve area neighborhoods, Lauren's First and Goal to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer, and the anti-gang initiative Brothers United Mentoring Program among many organizations Coach Emery and Co. have partnered.

After a 4-6 campaign in 2013, the Golden Bears bounced back with a four-game turnaround to improve to 8-2 in 2014. Only eight points combined in two losses prevented WNE from registering an unbeaten regular season. The season was highlighted by a 15-point rally late in the fourth quarter to defeat crosstown rival Springfield College, 38-34, to capture the inaugural Pynchon SAW Game in the season opener, and reclaiming the Presidents' Cup Trophy over Mass Pike rival Westfield State, 14-14, at home.

In addition, the Golden Bears last season were ranked in the top spot in the New England SID regional poll for the first four weeks, setting school records for consecutive weeks at No. 1, first-place votes (10, Week 3) and total points (205, Week 3) along the way. Western New England also started 5-0 for the first time in its NCAA history that began in 1981.

Last fall, Emery coached three All-Americans, first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American Andrew McManus, 11 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society members, and the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (Kevin Cook, 4,094) and touchdown receptions (Andrew Walz, 21).

In 2012, Emery saw the winningest class-at 31-12 for a .721 percentage-in school history go out in style with a 38-12 win over UMass-Dartmouth on Senior Day in the Nov. 3 finale, as WNE ended up 6-4. He became the program's all-time coaching victories leader in WNE's NCAA-era after the Golden Bears mauled Worcester State, 50-14, to surpass Gerry Martin who compiled 40 wins in 14 seasons from 1991 to 2004. Western New England also claimed its third-straight Presidents' Cup Trophy with a 35-10 victory over I-90 rival Westfield State in the home opener. In addition, he coached eight All-NEFC Boyd (including three on the first team), two all-region, one All-America and 21 academic all-conference selections.

The 2011 Golden Bears appeared in the NCAA Division III Football Championship for the first time as they fell in the opening round to national power Salisbury, 62-24, on the road. Two-time All-America kick-off specialist Mike Graham (Beyond Sports Network First Team, D3football.com Third Team) was among 12 all-conference picks as part of a record-setting season that produced the school's first-ever NEFC title. The team received 15 points in the final American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) poll, placing 32nd in the nation if the Top-25 rankings were extrapolated. Emery was selected the New England Football Writers Association Division II/III Coach-of-the-Year, too. The squad posted a school-best nine-game winning streak from Sep. 16 through Nov. 12.

Western New England ended its historic 2010 season with a thrilling 66-41 victory over Maine Maritime in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North Central Bowl game, which was the first post-season playoff contest in school history. The Golden Bears were ranked ninth in the final New England Division III coaches' poll.

WNE ranked high in numerous NEFC categories, finishing second in rushing offense (246.9 yards per game) and third in total offense (364.3) and pass defense (126.0), and fourth in scoring defense (16.6).

For his efforts, Emery was selected the 2010 NEFC Boyd Division Coach of the Year.

In 2009, Emery led his team to a 6-4 record (5-2 in the Boyd Division) after the Golden Bears ended the year with five consecutive victories.

Western New England posted a 3-7 record in 2008 and had a 3-4 mark in division play after winning only one league game the previous season. The Golden Bears ended their campaign on a strong note winning two of their last three contests and defeating highly regarded UMass Dartmouth (38-31) for the first time in 12 meetings.

WNE opened the 2007 season with an impressive 48-21 victory over Empire 8 champion and NCAA Division III Tournament participant Hartwick, defeated Maine Maritime 21-13 on the road, and ended the year with a solid 30-10 decision over Nichols. The three squads each finished their respective seasons with winning records and were a combined 18-11.

The Golden Bears had one of the most improved teams in the conference in 2006 after compiling a 5-4 record, which tied the school record for wins at the time. WNE opened its season with a victory over visiting Westfield State in the annual President's Trophy contest and ended the season by winning three of its final four contests that included back-to-back shutouts over Endicott (3-0) and Salve Regina (28-0).

Emery was named the first full-time head football coach at Western New England on April 19, 2005.

His first squad posted a 3-6 record in a rookie season that featured several exciting contests. The Golden Bears set 10 school records, tied another mark, and outscored opponents by a 208-195 margin. Emery also organized a reunion with former football players working in conjunction with the school's alumni association.

Prior to joining the WNE staff, Emery served as an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., for seven seasons. He was the defensive coordinator the last four years and associate head coach in 2004.

Emery was selected the AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004 and named to the "Hot Coaches" list by American Football Monthly. In his final season at John Hopkins, the Blue Jays posted a 9-2 record, shared their third straight Centennial Conference (CC) Championship, and won the ECAC Division III Southeast crown with a 26-23 victory over Waynesburg (Pa.) College.

Emery was named the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Division III Coach of the Year in 2015.

Before arriving at Johns Hopkins, Emery served as an assistant football coach working with the defensive line at Kenyon College in Ohio for two seasons.

Emery received a bachelor of arts degree in international studies at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania in 1994, where he was a member of four CC championship squads.

Emery earned his master of education degree in physical education (with a concentration in Athletic Administration) at Springfield College in 1996. While attending graduate school at Springfield, he served as an assistant football coach at Stafford High School in Connecticut (1994) and assistant football coach at Enfield High School (1995).

The AFCA member is active within the organization on the D3 Football Council and Public Relations Committee.

Emery also was an assistant track coach at Longmeadow (Mass.) High School in from 1995-96.

His grandfather, George Hargreaves, was an adjunct faculty member at Western New England in the 1970's.

Emery and his wife, Christina, are the proud parents of Alexandra Kollay, who joined the Golden Bears' family on Nov. 6, 2006, and Matthew Hopkins, who was born on Jan. 30, 2009. The Emerys reside in Ellington, Conn.