Jay Keane Resigns as Wilmington Girls Basketball Coach

Wilmington High School girls basketball head coach Jay Keane confirmed on Thursday that he stepped down from his position after eight consistently victorious seasons with the Lady Wildcats.

Keane is currently a captain for the Somerville Fire Department, and is likely to be promoted in the next several weeks to district chief. Keane said it would be nearly impossible to find the time to fill both roles simultaneously.

As a result, Keane told Athletics Director Ed Harrison of his decision late last week before meeting with a group of his players who are eligible to return next season.

“There’s never an easy way to say it. It was really hard for me,” said Keane. “I genuinely care about these kids and I always want to be there for them. They understood, but it was emotional for them and for me. They were disappointed, which I hope is a good thing. Hopefully that means that they care about me as well, and the fact that I won’t be there.”

During his eight years as the Wilmington head coach, Keane led the Wildcats to the playoffs every season. According to the Lowell Sun, his record was 120-60 during that span.

Keane said he told Harrison that whoever the next coach is to patrol the sidelines for Wilmington, they must be able to commit to keeping the program going at the same level as the last eight years.

“I don’t think anyone realizes how much time a coach puts in. It’s a seven day a week job,” said Keane. “I told (Harrison) to do me a favor and hire someone who put in as much time as I did. Anything else isn’t fair to the kids. I don’t regret one minute of the last eight years, but it is a lot of time.”

While Keane said he is leaving the bench, he added that whenever possible he will make the time to find a seat in the bleachers. Keane said he isn’t “abandoning ship” and that he will be happy to help players in the offseason or in any other way possible.

Still, the former Wildcat mentor said it will be a difficult place to watch the games from.

“It’ll be hard for me not to be their coach,” said Keane. “The only thing I know how to do is coach them. It’ll be difficult for me to be in my seat watching them play.”