BUILDING EXELLENCE
I believe an excellent coach can not only help train an athlete physically, but can be one of the most important influences in the athletes life as they grow up. Excellent coaches can help guide your child on a path of success. My hope is that basketball training is just the beginning of a lifelong mentorship. There are fewer joys than watching kids grow, achieve goals, and carve out their own life.
My coaching style is laid back, yet intense. I am not a ‘win at all costs’ coach, or a ‘scream until you get the result’ type coach, as I do have the perspective that this is still just a game, and most of the time, there will be another opportunity. I describe a ‘quiet inner confidence’ in the Skills Training page.
I have clear expectations of my athletes, and desperately want to see them achieve their goals. However, it is completely upon the athlete to have that internal desire and drive in achieving those goals.
If you are considering working with us, we look forward to serving you.
DAVE
KEANE
I am married to Maura, and have four beautiful children, ages 12-6. Together we have steadily created a beautiful life, tailoring our other business endeavors in being able to work from home, and most importantly, spend quality time raising our kids. Now it’s allowed us to start this business.
My hobbies are sports and exercise related (once an athlete, always an athlete). I still play basketball, and found a new love for endurance sports, so I hope to complete a full ironman triathlon, and a 100 mile running race in the coming years.
MAURA
KEANE
Her plate is full, and so is her heart. Wife. Mom of four. Homeschool teacher to those kids. Small business owner. Organizer, scheduler, and whatever else needs to happen for Rise Skills Academy.
Family History
1950’s-60’s
THE BEGINNING
Joe, Dave’s grandfather, played high school and college football for St. Joseph’s and Army. Following his playing career, he coached for over two decades at schools such as Bishop Noll, St. Mel, Thornton with numerous accolades, many conference titles, and a state championship. He also served as a pro scout for multiple NFL teams. Upon being inducted into the Illinois Football Hall of Fame, he said “The real pleasure is in the coaching, the scouting, and the making of it; the trophies and everything else means little.“
1970’s
MULTI-SPORT TWINS
Joe (Dave’s father), and his twin brother John, are first team all-conference basketball and baseball players in the Independent League in Illinois. Joe and John continue playing basketball in college at St. Joes for a year, then at St. Xaviers.
2001-2004
Maura’s High School Career
Maura was a multi-sport athlete at Greenfield High School. In basketball, she was named an all-conference player her sophomore year, however knee injuries kept her from playing junior and senior seasons. In softball, she was a four year all-conference player, and two time all-state player. For her career, she had over 100 hits, 65 RBI, and 10 home runs, all top 5 in school history. After one year of playing softball at Green Bay, Maura decided to move back home and finish her degree at UW-Milwaukee.
Dave’s High School Career
Dave’s team records a 16-0 undefeated freshman season at Greenfield High School. Sophomore and junior seasons do not go as expected with multiple coaching changes. However, after being predicted to finish 2nd last, Dave leads Greenfield High to its first conference championship in 20+ years, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds a game. Dave is named as an all-state player, conference player of the year, and commits to UW-Parkside to continue playing basketball.
2009+
DAVE’S COLLEGE CAREER
During his college career at UW-Parkside, Wisconsin’s only Division II school, the Rangers beat multiple Division 1 schools including Illinois-Chicago, Loyola, and UW-Milwaukee. His junior year, they make the NCAA Tournament. Dave finished his career with a double digit scoring average, multiple 30 point games, 90%+ free throw percentage, and top 10 in 3pt makes.
Looking Back
Two things I am most proud of: After missing my redshirt freshman year because of ankle reconstruction surgery, my following four years I was able to play in every game, until late in my senior year where I suffered a broken nose which required surgery. Secondly, I started my senior year making 48 straight free throws. After college ended, I continued to play in Milwaukee city leagues.
2013-2020
After Basketball
Life happened fast. Married high school sweetheart. Started a business. Four kids. Marriage in rough shape. Moved to Florida. Business grows, but marriage and home life gets worse. Competitive basketball, which it appeared I built a lot of my life on, is now gone. We need help.
Basketball put in its rightful place
After much reluctance by Dave, we walked into a church that met in a high school cafetorium, hoping it was not a cult. We realized quickly, these people had something we were missing. Genuine joy. After starting to regularly attend, we make a commitment to follow Jesus, and are later baptized. God then worked to completely change our lives, and restore our marriage. Looking back, God used this time to remove basketball as “God“, so that he could take his rightful place as first in our lives.
2021 – Present
2022
Joy in Coaching
With a restored, healthy relationship with basketball, Dave and Maura coach multiple of their kids teams across a variety of sports.
2024
New Business Starts
With so much experience, and being up to date on the latest basketball trends, and training techniques, Dave officially declares Rise Skills Academy as a business.
- Coach Dave