Carthage College Athletics

Perhaps the greatest name in the history of Carthage athletics, Art Keller and his family have had Carthage College and Carthage, Ill., in their blood since the early-1940s. Keller, a native of Blodgett, Ill., attended Anna-Jonesboro High School, graduated from Carthage in 1944 and soon thereafter, became the football coach for the Carthage High School Blueboys.

After receiving his master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1952, he moved across town to Carthage College in 1952 as director of athletics, head football coach and head basketball coach. He retained the first two titles for the next 31 years. He gave up the basketball job after the 1958 season, while also coaching baseball in both 1955 and 1956.

Keller compiled a 177-87-7 football record in 31 years and won eight CCIW titles, including five straight from 1969 to 1973. Under Keller’s leadership, Carthage rattled off six undefeated conference seasons, three 14-game win streaks, and a phenomenal 29-game CCIW unbeaten streak (28-0-1). The CCIW's Outstanding Offensive Player Award is named for Keller, who stands fourth on the conference's all-time victory ledger with a 105-53-3 mark in his 22 seasons in the league. Keller received a college-division Distinguished Coaching Award from the Football Writers Association of America in 1982, and he was inducted into the Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1984. Keller is survived by his wife and Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame member Beverly Hand Keller, “The First Lady of Carthage Athletics.”