After being named interim head coach just last week, Keith Urgo was announced as the next head coach of Fordham Men’s Basketball by athletic director Ed Kull on Thursday. Urgo, who served one season as associate head coach for the Rams, replaces Kyle Neptune following his departure to Villanova.

Urgo’s hiring was first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein late Monday evening. His resume is an impressive one, including three years at Gonzaga as an assistant coach and two years at Villanova as director of basketball operations. After spending 10 years with Penn State, eight of them as associate head coach, Urgo now takes the top job at Rose Hill in what will be his first head coaching gig at the collegiate level.

At Penn State, Urgo was lauded for his recruiting and ability to build relationships with players. His 10 years with the Nittany Lions saw some of the most talented recruits ever to pass through State College, including Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens. 

Following the departure of Neptune, several Fordham players voiced their wishes on social media for the Rams to hire Urgo as permanent head coach. Sophomore guard Antrell Charlton said on Twitter, “Keith Urgo is the guy we need running things at Rose Hill,” and freshman forward Patrick Kelly noted, “Keith Urgo is who we need as head coach!” 

With support for Urgo evident, the decision to hire him seemed an obvious one for Fordham. Other potential candidates rumored to be in the running for the job included Providence assistant coach Ivan Thomas, Kentucky assistant Bruiser Flint, Rutgers assistant Brandin Knight and Bryant head coach Jared Grasso. 

The news of Urgo’s hiring will likely keep Fordham’s core together for the immediate future. New recruits like Angel Montas, Will Richardson and Romad Dean are now expected to stay with the program along with several older players who were rumored to put their names in the transfer portal before the May 1 deadline.

An outside hire risked the loss of these key assets acquired during the reign of Neptune and Urgo. Clearly someone who is respected and well-liked by the players, Urgo’s hiring signifies Fordham’s belief in the direction Neptune was taking the team. The Rams, who finished 16-16 overall last season and 8-10 in Atlantic 10 play, will now look to push on with a similar trajectory they had under Neptune.

Fordham Basketball has experienced just two seasons with an in-conference winning record since they first joined the A-10 in the 1995-96 season. Despite the shock of Neptune’s sudden departure, Fordham fans can hope that Urgo will continue to move Fordham towards future success.