Keating a No-Show at Ventura

Where is Jim Keating?

That’s what college administrators at both ends of California would like to know.

Keating, 41, former men’s basketball coach at Shasta College in Redding, was hired July 2 as men’s coach at Ventura College and was expected to report for work Tuesday. As of 5 p.m., Athletic Director Dick James said the coach had not arrived on campus.

At Shasta, President Doug Treadway said Keating is expected to attend staff meetings Friday and begin teaching physical education classes when the fall semester begins Monday.

James said Keating informed him over the weekend that he was returning to Northern California to officially resign his position and dispel published reports that he has reconsidered taking the job at Ventura.

“He’s not here,” James said Tuesday. “I assume he’s on his way here.”

Treadway said Keating has yet to inform the school--either verbally or in writing--of any career change.

Keating did not return phone calls placed to his Redding home Tuesday.

His 8-year-old daughter, Katie, was at home and said Keating was in Redding.

“I wish we had more info, but we don’t,” Treadway said. “He has a job and a contract and we expect him to be here.

“I don’t even know how to speculate on what is happening. I haven’t talked to him in some time. All I know about Ventura is what I’ve heard and read in the papers. Geez, it doesn’t sound like a good way to start.”

Treadway said Keating will be docked a day’s pay if he fails to report but declined to speculate further.

James did not return subsequent phone calls Tuesday.

Keating, who compiled a 200-123 record and won three Golden Valley Conference championships at Shasta, stepped down as coach of the Knights after finishing with a 15-15 record. He was reassigned to teach in the school’s physical education department, a decision he was not pleased with, Treadway said.

Keating and administrators butted heads over the coach’s penchant for recruiting players from outside the area, Treadway said.

“It’s no secret that he was unhappy about it,” Treadway said. “I’m going to be very upset if he has taken another job and is going to leave us in the lurch. But from what I’m hearing from second-hand reports, he’s leaving Ventura in the lurch.”

Rumors swirled when a story in the Redding Record-Searchlight on Saturday reported that Keating was having second thoughts about taking the Ventura job.

Gary Lewis, the school’s athletic director, told the Record-Searchlight he had “a feeling” Keating would remain at Shasta.

Lewis did not return phone calls Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ventura announced Tuesday that Laurian Watkins, a longtime area youth-leagues coach, has been named men’s assistant basketball coach.