One of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history, Joe McKeown (pronounced Mick-Q-ann) begins his 18th season leading the Northwestern University women’s basketball program in 2025-26. McKeown, who enters his 40th year overall as a head coach, was named the sixth head coach in program history on June 9, 2008.
The winningest active Women's Basketball head coach in the Big Ten Conference, McKeown has transformed the Wildcats' into a respected force in the conference and beyond since arriving in Evanston. Under his leadership, Northwestern has recorded 268 victories, ten winning seasons, and made multiple postseason appearances, including a WNIT runner-up finish in 2019 and two NCAA Tournament berths in 2015 and 2021, the latter of which included the Wildcats winning their first tournament game in 28 years.
McKeown's overall head coaching record stands at 777–432 (.643), spanning an exceptional career that includes 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. Before arriving at Northwestern, he established himself as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Women's Basketball at George Washington University, where he led the school to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances and ten Atlantic 10 Conference regular season championships in 19 seasons.
At Northwestern, McKeown has developed multiple WNBA Draft picks, including first round selections Nia Coffey (5th overall, 2017 Draft) and Veronica Burton (7th overall, 2022 Draft), as well as third round picks Lindsey Pulliam (2021 Draft) and Amy Jaeschke (2011 Draft).
During McKeown's tenure, the Wildcats have established a number of program firsts, including Coffey becoming the first first-year in program history to be named First Team All-Big Ten during the 2013-14 season; Maggie Lyon's crowning as the 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year; and Jaeschke becoming the first Wildcat to be selected in the WNBA Draft as the 27th pick overall by the Chicago Sky. Under McKeown's leadership, Northwestern has consistently ranked among the top defensive teams in the Big Ten, with point guard Ashley Deary winning back-to-back Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017, and Burton winning the award three years in a row from 2020-22.
During a storybook 2019-20 season, McKeown guided Northwestern to a historic Big Ten regular season championship and the most single-season wins (26) in program history. In recognition of his efforts, McKeown was named the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year and was the runner-up for Associated Press National Coach of the Year, finishing behind only South Carolina's Dawn Staley. He was also one of five semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy Women's College Coach of the Year for his efforts that season.
Jaeschke turned in not only one of the best seasons in Wildcat annals, but also one of the most storied careers, ranking first in blocks, second in scoring and in rebounding. Jaeschke also was tabbed an Associated Press honorable mention All-American, marking the first time since 1998 that a Wildcat appeared on the prestigious list. Coffey was named an AP honorable mention All-American twice in 2016 and 2017 and has four All-Big Ten first-team honors. She went on follow Jaeschke's footsteps and was selected in the WNBA Draft with the fifth overall pick by the San Antonio Stars, the highest pick in program history. Meanwhile Deary was named the program’s first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. After repeating, Deary also became just the third player in Big Ten history to win the award back-to-back seasons.
Under his tutelage in 2019-20, McKeown saw three players earn all-conference honors, including Lindsey Pulliam and Abi Scheid named to the All-Big Ten First Team with Pulliam recognized as an unanimous selection. Veronica Burton was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Burton also was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team. It marked the first time in program history that three players were selected to the first two All-Big Ten Teams.
A comprehensive 87-69 win over Omaha on November 12, 2023 gave McKeown his 252nd win with the 'Cats and made him the winningest basketball coach in Northwestern history, surpassing Don Perrelli. McKeown became just the 13th active head coach in NCAA Division I and fourth in the Big Ten Conference to surpass reach the 700-win plateau on December 20, 2019 in a 64-45 win over East Carolina. His 200th victory at Northwestern came against Michigan on January 30, 2020, as he joined Perelli as one of only two head coaches in Wildcat history to compile 200 wins.
McKeown also led Northwestern to the WNIT in 2009-10, just his second year with the program, NU had not made the postseason since 1997. That year, the Wildcats played George Washington University in the first round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament and at the time, McKeown dueled against NU as head coach of the Colonials. NU’s postseason success developed following the 2014-15 season as the Wildcats made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997.
McKeown’s Wildcats have also seen success in the Big Ten Tournament, making back-to-back appearances (2015-16) in the semifinal round of the tournament. In 2016, the Wildcats won three games in the league tournament for the first time in program history.
McKeown has also be heavily involved with USA Basketball during his coaching career. Following the 2014-15 season, he served as head coach of the United States for the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea, where he piloted the team to a spotless 6-0 record, a stretch punctuated by an 82-63 win over Canada in the Gold Medal Game. McKeown was also named as an assistant coach for the 2008 USA Basketball Women's U-18 National Team and was a floor coach for the 1992 Olympic Team.
McKeown joined the Wildcats following 19 years as the head coach at George Washington University, where he became one of the most respected names in women's college basketball. He left George Washington as the winningest coach in school history and in the Atlantic 10 Conference. He coached the Colonials to 14 regular season or postseason Atlantic 10 crowns.
In his 19 seasons at George Washington, McKeown compiled a 441-154 record, with his 1997 squad going on a Cinderella run to the NCAA Elite Eight. On three other occasions, the Colonials advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (1995, 2007, 2008). In his 15 NCAA Tournament trips with GW, the Colonials won their first-round tournament game 13 times. McKeown is a five-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1991, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007) and two-time National Coach of the Year nominee (1995, 1997). He was inducted into the George Washington Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
McKeown arrived at George Washington in September of 1989. After inheriting a team that finished 9-19 the season before, McKeown quickly turned the Colonials into an elite women's college program with his teams averaging nearly 24 wins per year the next 18 seasons. While at George Washington, McKeown coached six Atlantic 10 Conference Players of the Year. He also mentored seven A-10 Rookies of the Year, five Defensive Players of the Year, five Sixth Players of the Year, 14 All-Rookie Team selections, and a staggering 51 all-conference performers.
Equally as impressive as George Washington's success on the court was its outstanding performance in the classroom, which has carried over to his tenure in Evanston. During McKeown's tenure, George Washington players received Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference recognition 17 times and eight players were named College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District selections, a group that included a trio of Academic All-Americans. Among Northwestern’s record-breaking 86 2019 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars (minimum 3.70 yearly GPA), four of McKeown’s players were awarded with the special recognition.
McKeown spent three seasons as the head coach at New Mexico State, where he went 68-20 and appeared in two NCAA tournaments, Prior to coaching at New Mexico State, McKeown served as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1983-86, and at his alma mater, Kent State University, from 1979-80.
As a player, McKeown earned Junior College National Small Player of the Year honors at Mercer County Community College in Trenton, N.J., where he led the Vikings to an appearance in the National Championship game and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2024. McKeown then transferred to Kent State. There, he co-captained the Golden Flashes as a senior and earned honorable mention All-Mid-American Conference honors. His school-record 15 assists in a game still stands.
A proud native of Philadelphia, McKeown was inducted into the Father Judge High School Hall of Fame, a prestigious member of the Philadelphia Catholic League, in 1999.
McKeown and his family are heavily involved in the Autism Speaks Foundation, a national organization that creates awareness and raises money for the fight against autism. McKeown and his wife, Laura, have three children, Meghan, Joey and Ally.
The winningest active Women's Basketball head coach in the Big Ten Conference, McKeown has transformed the Wildcats' into a respected force in the conference and beyond since arriving in Evanston. Under his leadership, Northwestern has recorded 268 victories, ten winning seasons, and made multiple postseason appearances, including a WNIT runner-up finish in 2019 and two NCAA Tournament berths in 2015 and 2021, the latter of which included the Wildcats winning their first tournament game in 28 years.
McKeown's overall head coaching record stands at 777–432 (.643), spanning an exceptional career that includes 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. Before arriving at Northwestern, he established himself as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Women's Basketball at George Washington University, where he led the school to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances and ten Atlantic 10 Conference regular season championships in 19 seasons.
At Northwestern, McKeown has developed multiple WNBA Draft picks, including first round selections Nia Coffey (5th overall, 2017 Draft) and Veronica Burton (7th overall, 2022 Draft), as well as third round picks Lindsey Pulliam (2021 Draft) and Amy Jaeschke (2011 Draft).
During McKeown's tenure, the Wildcats have established a number of program firsts, including Coffey becoming the first first-year in program history to be named First Team All-Big Ten during the 2013-14 season; Maggie Lyon's crowning as the 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year; and Jaeschke becoming the first Wildcat to be selected in the WNBA Draft as the 27th pick overall by the Chicago Sky. Under McKeown's leadership, Northwestern has consistently ranked among the top defensive teams in the Big Ten, with point guard Ashley Deary winning back-to-back Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017, and Burton winning the award three years in a row from 2020-22.
During a storybook 2019-20 season, McKeown guided Northwestern to a historic Big Ten regular season championship and the most single-season wins (26) in program history. In recognition of his efforts, McKeown was named the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year and was the runner-up for Associated Press National Coach of the Year, finishing behind only South Carolina's Dawn Staley. He was also one of five semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy Women's College Coach of the Year for his efforts that season.
Jaeschke turned in not only one of the best seasons in Wildcat annals, but also one of the most storied careers, ranking first in blocks, second in scoring and in rebounding. Jaeschke also was tabbed an Associated Press honorable mention All-American, marking the first time since 1998 that a Wildcat appeared on the prestigious list. Coffey was named an AP honorable mention All-American twice in 2016 and 2017 and has four All-Big Ten first-team honors. She went on follow Jaeschke's footsteps and was selected in the WNBA Draft with the fifth overall pick by the San Antonio Stars, the highest pick in program history. Meanwhile Deary was named the program’s first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. After repeating, Deary also became just the third player in Big Ten history to win the award back-to-back seasons.
Under his tutelage in 2019-20, McKeown saw three players earn all-conference honors, including Lindsey Pulliam and Abi Scheid named to the All-Big Ten First Team with Pulliam recognized as an unanimous selection. Veronica Burton was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Burton also was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team. It marked the first time in program history that three players were selected to the first two All-Big Ten Teams.
A comprehensive 87-69 win over Omaha on November 12, 2023 gave McKeown his 252nd win with the 'Cats and made him the winningest basketball coach in Northwestern history, surpassing Don Perrelli. McKeown became just the 13th active head coach in NCAA Division I and fourth in the Big Ten Conference to surpass reach the 700-win plateau on December 20, 2019 in a 64-45 win over East Carolina. His 200th victory at Northwestern came against Michigan on January 30, 2020, as he joined Perelli as one of only two head coaches in Wildcat history to compile 200 wins.
McKeown also led Northwestern to the WNIT in 2009-10, just his second year with the program, NU had not made the postseason since 1997. That year, the Wildcats played George Washington University in the first round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament and at the time, McKeown dueled against NU as head coach of the Colonials. NU’s postseason success developed following the 2014-15 season as the Wildcats made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997.
McKeown’s Wildcats have also seen success in the Big Ten Tournament, making back-to-back appearances (2015-16) in the semifinal round of the tournament. In 2016, the Wildcats won three games in the league tournament for the first time in program history.
McKeown has also be heavily involved with USA Basketball during his coaching career. Following the 2014-15 season, he served as head coach of the United States for the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea, where he piloted the team to a spotless 6-0 record, a stretch punctuated by an 82-63 win over Canada in the Gold Medal Game. McKeown was also named as an assistant coach for the 2008 USA Basketball Women's U-18 National Team and was a floor coach for the 1992 Olympic Team.
McKeown joined the Wildcats following 19 years as the head coach at George Washington University, where he became one of the most respected names in women's college basketball. He left George Washington as the winningest coach in school history and in the Atlantic 10 Conference. He coached the Colonials to 14 regular season or postseason Atlantic 10 crowns.
In his 19 seasons at George Washington, McKeown compiled a 441-154 record, with his 1997 squad going on a Cinderella run to the NCAA Elite Eight. On three other occasions, the Colonials advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (1995, 2007, 2008). In his 15 NCAA Tournament trips with GW, the Colonials won their first-round tournament game 13 times. McKeown is a five-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1991, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007) and two-time National Coach of the Year nominee (1995, 1997). He was inducted into the George Washington Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
McKeown arrived at George Washington in September of 1989. After inheriting a team that finished 9-19 the season before, McKeown quickly turned the Colonials into an elite women's college program with his teams averaging nearly 24 wins per year the next 18 seasons. While at George Washington, McKeown coached six Atlantic 10 Conference Players of the Year. He also mentored seven A-10 Rookies of the Year, five Defensive Players of the Year, five Sixth Players of the Year, 14 All-Rookie Team selections, and a staggering 51 all-conference performers.
Equally as impressive as George Washington's success on the court was its outstanding performance in the classroom, which has carried over to his tenure in Evanston. During McKeown's tenure, George Washington players received Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference recognition 17 times and eight players were named College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District selections, a group that included a trio of Academic All-Americans. Among Northwestern’s record-breaking 86 2019 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars (minimum 3.70 yearly GPA), four of McKeown’s players were awarded with the special recognition.
McKeown spent three seasons as the head coach at New Mexico State, where he went 68-20 and appeared in two NCAA tournaments, Prior to coaching at New Mexico State, McKeown served as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1983-86, and at his alma mater, Kent State University, from 1979-80.
As a player, McKeown earned Junior College National Small Player of the Year honors at Mercer County Community College in Trenton, N.J., where he led the Vikings to an appearance in the National Championship game and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2024. McKeown then transferred to Kent State. There, he co-captained the Golden Flashes as a senior and earned honorable mention All-Mid-American Conference honors. His school-record 15 assists in a game still stands.
A proud native of Philadelphia, McKeown was inducted into the Father Judge High School Hall of Fame, a prestigious member of the Philadelphia Catholic League, in 1999.
McKeown and his family are heavily involved in the Autism Speaks Foundation, a national organization that creates awareness and raises money for the fight against autism. McKeown and his wife, Laura, have three children, Meghan, Joey and Ally.