The successes of the 2019-20 season put Penn State squarely in the spotlight, a result of the knowledge, persistence and patience of the Nittany Lion basketball staff. Associate head coach Keith Urgo brings an energetic force that continues to drive the program forward.
Urgo, beginning his 10th season with the Nittany Lions, was recognized as one of the nation’s top assistant coaches following 2019-20, earning credit for his efforts to assemble a talented team on the basketball court and build a strong foundation for the Penn State program. He came to State College in 2011 and was quickly promoted to associate head coach in 2013.
The upward trajectory of Nittany Lion basketball is the product of a purposeful plan with unwavering belief and work ethic, with the goal of getting better each and every day. The improvements and progress have been steady over the last nine years, culminating with two 20-win seasons in the last three years, and a lengthy list of both team and individual accomplishments.
In addition to the 21 overall wins and 11 Big Ten Conference wins, the totals in 2019-20 included eight-straight league wins to set the program’s record for longest Big Ten win streak. Consecutive victories over four ranked teams set another record as the Nittany Lions were positioned for an NCAA Tournament berth before both the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With 76 wins over the last four seasons, the Nittany Lion seniors, led by two-time All-Big Ten first-team selection Lamar Stevens, became Penn State’s winningest class, which included the 2018 National Invitation Tournament championship and 12 wins over ranked teams during that timeframe. PSU earned a national ranking from the Associated Press for the first time since 1996 and spent 10 weeks in the polls, rising as high as No. 9.
Penn State’s transformation began with successes in the recruiting arena and Urgo’s ability to cultivate relationships translated to two 20-win seasons in the last two years as well as the Nittany Lions’ first NBA draft pick in more than 20 years. The Washington, D.C., native was responsible for some of Villanova’s best recruiting classes, including the Wildcats’ third-ranked 2009 class with four ESPNU top-100 signees, a No. 2 class in 2010, and a top-20 rated 2011 class.
At the forefront of Penn State’s recruiting efforts, Urgo has identified prospects, brought them into the program and helped further their development on the court. In fall 2018, ESPN ranked the Penn State coaching staff No. 7 among high-major programs for the ability to develop talent.
The 2017-18 season witnessed Penn State’s highly regarded recruiting classes transfer their success to the win column with 26 victories, the second-highest total in program history, an appearance in the Big Ten semifinals at Madison Square Garden, and Penn State’s second National Invitation Tournament championship.
While the Washington, D.C., native may not tout his own strengths as a coach and person, his abilities in building relationships and developing young men into the leaders of tomorrow are evident.
Josh Reaves, the 2019 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, who signed with the Dallas Mavericks in June 2019, Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection Mike Watkins, Shep Garner, Tony Carr, NBA veteran Tim Frazier, D.J. Newbill, the National Basketball League Defensive Player of the Year for 2019-20, as professional players who benefitted from Urgo’s instruction and guidance.
Carr, Garner, Frazier, Newbill, Reaves, Stevens and Watkins helped pave the way for the Nittany Lions’ success and all etched their names in the Penn State record book. They are just a few of the student-athletes mentored by Urgo, a lengthy list that includes, and includes Scottie Reynolds, the Most Outstanding Player at the 2009 NCAA East Regional, Corey Fisher, Maalik Wayns and Reggie Redding from Villanova, to name just a few.
Penn State’s list of accolades has expanded since 2012 with five first-team All-Big Ten picks, five Big Ten All-Defensive Team selections and two players on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Overall, 32 Nittany Lions have received honors from the league’s coaches or media, the most under any Penn State coaching staff.
Two of Penn State’s recruiting classes earned national rankings with more to come. The class of 2015 was the first-ever top-30 signing class in program history. A year later, Penn State’s first top-25 recruiting class took the mantle as the program’s best. The 2017 class made major contributions to the Nittany Lions’ milestone 2017-18 campaign and the most current classes are building on that strong foundation.
A 2002 graduate of Fairfield University, Urgo was a two-sport athlete who played varsity basketball and lacrosse for the Stags. Following graduation, he helped develop a non-profit organization, “Playing for Peace, Inc.”, designed to aide in conflict resolution. The organization is based in four locales: Durban, South Africa, Northern Ireland, the West Bank in the Middle East, and Cypress, Greece.
Urgo’s role with the organization took him first to South Africa and then to Northern Ireland, where for 18 months he would teach basketball to local youth and help them develop leadership skills. The organization, now operating as “Peace Players International,” has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the 2007 Arthur Ashe ESPY Award for Courage.
Returning stateside in 2004, Urgo accepted a position as an assistant coach at Gonzaga and directed the junior varsity squad to a 32-7 record while assisting with the national powerhouse varsity team. In 2007, he joined the Villanova basketball staff as the video coordinator. He moved up to the position of director of basketball operations and spent two seasons in that role, including 2008-09, when Villanova reached the NCAA Final Four. He was named an assistant coach for the Wildcats’ 2010-2011 season.
In his five years at Villanova, the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament every season, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2008, in addition to the trip to the 2009 Final Four.
Urgo, and his wife, Kristy, have four children: Ty, Cody, Samantha and Sydney Rae. The Urgo family is involved in several community organizations, including the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society and Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State. Keith was also selected as a celebrity ambassador for Special Olympics of Pennsylvania in May 2020.
Urgo, beginning his 10th season with the Nittany Lions, was recognized as one of the nation’s top assistant coaches following 2019-20, earning credit for his efforts to assemble a talented team on the basketball court and build a strong foundation for the Penn State program. He came to State College in 2011 and was quickly promoted to associate head coach in 2013.
The upward trajectory of Nittany Lion basketball is the product of a purposeful plan with unwavering belief and work ethic, with the goal of getting better each and every day. The improvements and progress have been steady over the last nine years, culminating with two 20-win seasons in the last three years, and a lengthy list of both team and individual accomplishments.
In addition to the 21 overall wins and 11 Big Ten Conference wins, the totals in 2019-20 included eight-straight league wins to set the program’s record for longest Big Ten win streak. Consecutive victories over four ranked teams set another record as the Nittany Lions were positioned for an NCAA Tournament berth before both the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With 76 wins over the last four seasons, the Nittany Lion seniors, led by two-time All-Big Ten first-team selection Lamar Stevens, became Penn State’s winningest class, which included the 2018 National Invitation Tournament championship and 12 wins over ranked teams during that timeframe. PSU earned a national ranking from the Associated Press for the first time since 1996 and spent 10 weeks in the polls, rising as high as No. 9.
Penn State’s transformation began with successes in the recruiting arena and Urgo’s ability to cultivate relationships translated to two 20-win seasons in the last two years as well as the Nittany Lions’ first NBA draft pick in more than 20 years. The Washington, D.C., native was responsible for some of Villanova’s best recruiting classes, including the Wildcats’ third-ranked 2009 class with four ESPNU top-100 signees, a No. 2 class in 2010, and a top-20 rated 2011 class.
At the forefront of Penn State’s recruiting efforts, Urgo has identified prospects, brought them into the program and helped further their development on the court. In fall 2018, ESPN ranked the Penn State coaching staff No. 7 among high-major programs for the ability to develop talent.
The 2017-18 season witnessed Penn State’s highly regarded recruiting classes transfer their success to the win column with 26 victories, the second-highest total in program history, an appearance in the Big Ten semifinals at Madison Square Garden, and Penn State’s second National Invitation Tournament championship.
While the Washington, D.C., native may not tout his own strengths as a coach and person, his abilities in building relationships and developing young men into the leaders of tomorrow are evident.
Josh Reaves, the 2019 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, who signed with the Dallas Mavericks in June 2019, Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection Mike Watkins, Shep Garner, Tony Carr, NBA veteran Tim Frazier, D.J. Newbill, the National Basketball League Defensive Player of the Year for 2019-20, as professional players who benefitted from Urgo’s instruction and guidance.
Carr, Garner, Frazier, Newbill, Reaves, Stevens and Watkins helped pave the way for the Nittany Lions’ success and all etched their names in the Penn State record book. They are just a few of the student-athletes mentored by Urgo, a lengthy list that includes, and includes Scottie Reynolds, the Most Outstanding Player at the 2009 NCAA East Regional, Corey Fisher, Maalik Wayns and Reggie Redding from Villanova, to name just a few.
Penn State’s list of accolades has expanded since 2012 with five first-team All-Big Ten picks, five Big Ten All-Defensive Team selections and two players on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Overall, 32 Nittany Lions have received honors from the league’s coaches or media, the most under any Penn State coaching staff.
Two of Penn State’s recruiting classes earned national rankings with more to come. The class of 2015 was the first-ever top-30 signing class in program history. A year later, Penn State’s first top-25 recruiting class took the mantle as the program’s best. The 2017 class made major contributions to the Nittany Lions’ milestone 2017-18 campaign and the most current classes are building on that strong foundation.
A 2002 graduate of Fairfield University, Urgo was a two-sport athlete who played varsity basketball and lacrosse for the Stags. Following graduation, he helped develop a non-profit organization, “Playing for Peace, Inc.”, designed to aide in conflict resolution. The organization is based in four locales: Durban, South Africa, Northern Ireland, the West Bank in the Middle East, and Cypress, Greece.
Urgo’s role with the organization took him first to South Africa and then to Northern Ireland, where for 18 months he would teach basketball to local youth and help them develop leadership skills. The organization, now operating as “Peace Players International,” has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the 2007 Arthur Ashe ESPY Award for Courage.
Returning stateside in 2004, Urgo accepted a position as an assistant coach at Gonzaga and directed the junior varsity squad to a 32-7 record while assisting with the national powerhouse varsity team. In 2007, he joined the Villanova basketball staff as the video coordinator. He moved up to the position of director of basketball operations and spent two seasons in that role, including 2008-09, when Villanova reached the NCAA Final Four. He was named an assistant coach for the Wildcats’ 2010-2011 season.
In his five years at Villanova, the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament every season, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2008, in addition to the trip to the 2009 Final Four.
Urgo, and his wife, Kristy, have four children: Ty, Cody, Samantha and Sydney Rae. The Urgo family is involved in several community organizations, including the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society and Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State. Keith was also selected as a celebrity ambassador for Special Olympics of Pennsylvania in May 2020.