Axemen name new head coach for the 2012 season
The Jacksonville Axemen are proud to introduce Mathew Keeley as the newest coach in a successful legacy of coaches over the past seven years. A team who has lost only 4 games in 4 years, the Axemen are confident that Keeley will carry the team towards another national title in 2012. “I’m excited,” says Drew Slover, co-owner and general manager of the team. “Mat has a lot of coaching and playing experience and I think he will use those skills to help all the Axemen become better players.” Keeley comes to Jacksonville from Canberra, Australia, and has played and coached for several teams in a rugby league career that began at the age of 5. He proved his talent and athleticism last week at the Axemen pre-season training camp by running the farthest of any team member in the endurance based beep test. Keeley brings that same intensity to the team through his coaching philosophy of precise and intense “no nonsense” training sessions which challenge the players physically while focusing on strategies to improve playing skills. The Jacksonville Axemen hope Keeley will lead them to another victory this weekend at the annual USARL 9’s tournament in Providence, Rhode Island.