Hall of Fame
Keith Sooy earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education with a minor in math from then Findlay College in 1968, attending on both academic and athletic scholarships. As a student, he served as assistant track coach, played baseball for a year and lettered for three years in basketball. He received his master’s degree from the University of Akron in 1972. For 30 years, Sooy taught health and math, and coached in 568 basketball games, with 428 wins and 145 losses, but not one technical foul in all those years. While at Firelands High School for 11 years, Keith won eight league championships and nine Coach-of-the-Year awards. While at Elyria for four years, he earned one league championship, and one Coach-of-the-Year award. While at Medina for 11 years he received four league championships, four Coach-of-the-Year awards, and two Cleveland area Coach-of-the-Year awards for 1993 and 1997. Quotes from former players: “He makes every student athlete feel like they’re an important part of the team, whether they’re starting or coming off the bench. We all work for one goal; for the team to win.” Fellow coaches say, “The example he sets, and the sportsmanship he exhibits are by design, and he does so much off the court for players and students that make him a tremendous person and successful teacher.” He graduated fourth in his high school and is a member of the Keystone High School Hall of Fame. He is married to Patricia (Thum ’68) and they have a son, Ryan.
