John Keever retires as Orange Empire Conference Commissioner

RIVERSIDE - It was recently announced that longtime Orange Empire Conference (OEC) commissioner and California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Inductee John Keever will step away from his duties as the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) commissioner effective August 31.

"When I first got a called about the commissioner job I was not interested," said Keever behind a chuckle. "I talked to John Woods, a good friend of mine and another commissioner and he made a profound statement. As a coach and athletic director, you influence so many lives of the student-athletes. As a commissioner, you have impact over administration, athletic directors, staff and a bigger group of student-athletes. After hearing that, I took the job."

Keever, a former coach, Athletic Director and student-athlete, served as the OEC commissioner for 13 years and helped lead the OEC and its member institutions in becoming one of the most competitive conferences in the State. He has contributed to the conference's 327 State Championships recently highlighted by titles in men's water polo (Golden West), baseball (Riverside), men's volleyball (Orange Coast), women's swimming & diving (Orange Coast), and beach volleyball (Irvine Valley).

"I hope I have made a good impact by influencing, helping people make the right decisions and take the right steps. Excellent character has been important to my life and it happened in our conference. I will miss them."

Keever began his journey at the California Community College level as a student-athlete at Ventura College where he earned First-Team All-Conference recognition. He went on to transfer to UC Santa Barbara to play football and was named the team captain. Additionally, he played three seasons of rugby and was a three-time All-Southern California player along with a First-Team All-American honor as a captain. He will be inducted into UCSB's Rugby Hall of Fame later this year. He was a member of a 1968 team that ranked seventh in the nation. 

He graduated and began a career as a football coach at UCSB before spending 37 years at Moorpark College in various roles. His roles included an assistant football coach for 10 years, an assistant track and field coach for 18 years and head wrestling coach for 27 years. He eventually transitioned into an administrative role and spent his final 14 years at Moorpark College as the Athletic Director. As the head wrestling coach, Keevers teams won 17 conference titles, two California State titles and a lone runner up.  Furthermore, he coached 11 state champions, 16 wrestlers who placed second and 53 All Americans.  In track, he coached 6 state champions and 25 state placers. 

"The biggest thing I tried to promote is being a good student-athlete and having a student first mindset," said Keever. "I wanted to push the scholar teams and scholar athletes. So, I started a committee and achieved that. The Character Champion Award, I thought, was a great addition."

Being the leader of arguably one of the strongest conference in the state was an honor for Keever. He expressed it was a team effort and he was blessed to be surrounded by such a good team.

"Helping the OEC be the best it could be was great and we did a really good job. It takes a great team to do that. We have good people in the conference and it's been very special."

Former Golden West Athletic Director Albert Gasparian will take over the commissioner duties effective September 1, 2022.  

"Good news is when you leave a position you always want to pass the baton to a good person. That is important and I am passing off the baton to a great person. Albert was a great coach, one of the winningest in history of his sport. He is a good character person and I feel really good about him taking over."

(Release by Nicho DellaValle)