Larry Keenum - 1996

Larry Keenum is a native of the small town of Trinity in Morgan County.  He attended West Morgan High School where he was the valedictorian of the 1972 graduating class.  A three-sport athlete, he earned All-State honors in football and baseball as a senior. 

Keenum was recruited by Coach Fred Frickie to play baseball at Calhoun Community College. In the spring of 1974 he led the Warhawks in hitting with a .463 batting average and was named as a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American.  He also was Calhoun Student/Athlete Award winner in 1974 with a .346 GPA. 

Moving on to the University of Alabama, Keenum was named to the All-Southeastern Conference team as a junior and again as a senior.  After signing with Baton Rouge Cougars Professional Baseball team, he played in the Louisiana city for one year and then moved to Birmingham where he played on season with the Birmingham Barons. 

In between seasons Keenum returned to college at Athens State College and completed his undergraduate degree in National Science.  He taught junior high science and coached three sports at Falkville High School for two years.  Returning to the University of Alabama as a Graduate assistant coach for the baseball team, he earned the master’s degree in Administration and Educational Law. 

Keenum remained at the University for two more years, working in the Alumni Relations Office before returning to Athens State College to become the Director of Alumni Affairs.  When the decision was made to add a women’s sport to the athletic program at Athens State, he was named as the head softball coach.   

After a 24-33 record in the Lady Bears’ first season, Keenum has led his team to a meterocial rise to join the nation’s elite in fast-pitch softball.  The 1994 squad posted a record of 53-16 to finish second in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament.  The spring of 1995 saw the Lady Bears return to the national tournament, finishing twelfth with a 49-4 record. 

Keenum’s five-year record with Athens State College is 199-92 for a winning percentage of .684.  Named as the NAIA District 27 Coach of the Year in 1994, he was honored as the Southeast Regional Coach of the Year in 1995.  Keenum’s 1194 team led the nation in every offensive category except bases on balls and his pitchers led the nation in total strikeouts.  His teams have produced 11 All-Americans in five years.  Six players were named to First Team All-American honors in 1995. 

Married to the former Jeanne Patterson of Athens, Keenum is father to two daughters, Laura Leigh and Lacey Elizabeth.