ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL
Randy Keck, Tabor College men’s and women’s golf coach has resigned effective immediately.
Keck and wife Sheryl will move to El Reno, Okla., where Keck will become the head golf coach at Redlands Community College.
Keck has been with Tabor for two years.
“Being at Tabor College has been the best experience of my wife’s and my life,” Keck said. “It was a great place to start our life together.
“There’s no place like Tabor, especially the students,” he added. “You’re surrounded by great Christian kids and it makes you stronger in your walk with Christ.”
Keck took over a struggling program and turned it into a national contender in his two-year tenure.
“When we first got here, because of some things that happened earlier, we came in with a skeleton crew,” Keck said. “We had a pretty decent year with what we had and then we were fortunate enough to bring in six new guys last fall.”
The Tabor men narrowly missed qualifying for nationals this spring and concluded the season ranked 26th in NAIA Division II.
“Knowing what we have coming back and the quality of new players we have coming in was the hardest part of this decision,” Keck said. “We felt like we’d be a top-10 team in the nation next year. This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”
Keck said returning to his native Oklahoma to be closer to family prompted him to pull up stakes.
“I’m going to miss my players and, in the long run, there may be times when I regret leaving,” Keck said. “But I felt like it was a better move to be in Oklahoma with the rest of my family.”
Athletic director Don Brubacher said Keck will be missed.
“Randy built a very competitive program in a short period of time,” Brubacher said. “The men’s team had an outstanding year and just missed qualifying for nationals.
“The progress the program made in a very short period of time is really remarkable,” he added. “Randy recruited good students who fit well at Tabor, so he achieved that success with students we were proud to have associated with Tabor College.
“He’s decided to leave because of a very good job opportunity closer to his home and we wish him nothing but the best.”
Keck said he has no regrets about the shape in which he leaves the Bluejay golf program.
“My dad always taught me anytime you buy something or take something over, always leave it better than it was when you got it and I feel like I’m doing that,” Keck said. “I think the majority of the players will come back to Tabor and I wish them the best of luck.
“I can’t say enough good things about Tabor,” he said. “We’re leaving on a great note.”
