Wayde A. Keiser, who compiled a respectable 55-27 (.670) record as head football coach of the Jesuit Blue Jays during the past seven seasons (2007-2013), is retiring from coaching and teaching.

The announcement was made Monday afternoon, July 7, by Keiser, who privately met with his staff of assistant coaches before turning around and meeting with the Blue Jay varsity football team to personally inform all of the players that he was retiring purely for personal reasons, effective immediately.

Jesuit head football coach Wayde Keiser ’78 announced Monday that he is retiring from coaching and teaching, effective immediately. Keiser, shown congratulating defensive player Jakirai Wiley during the 2013 Holy Cross game, was known for his strictly business, no-nonsense approach to coaching. He brought extraordinary levels of adrenalin, intensity, and emotion to games, practices, and even the classroom, where he taught P.E. courses as well as a senior economics elective.

“After 31 years of coaching and teaching, I will step down from the profession to spend more time with my family and enter into other opportunities,” said Keiser, who in addition to serving as head coach taught health & physical education as well as economics, a senior elective. “Thirty-one years in coaching has taken a toll on me, my wife Leah, and my family, and it is time to change and fix these issues.

“I thank Jesuit High School, its administration, faculty, and the Blue Jay Family for giving me the opportunity to be here and for their loyal support,” he continued. “I thank my staff of assistants who continue to work tirelessly to make Jesuit’s football program successful.

“Most of all, I thank my players and students who are the soul and spirit of this great school,” Keiser concluded. “Jesuit has raised me, taught me, and allowed me to make a living. I will be forever grateful.”

A search is already underway for Keiser’s replacement, said Dave Moreau, who is Jesuit’s athletic director.

“I want to assure everyone connected to the Jesuit football community that we will find the right person to lead our outstanding program,” said Moreau, adding that Keiser was only the school’s 22nd head football coach since 1912.

Keiser, a Jesuit alumnus of the Class of 1978 (as a senior, he was the starting center on Coach Billy Murphy’s 1977 squad), was brought on board as head coach in January 2007. It marked Keiser’s second stint at Jesuit as he was an assistant coach in the 1988 season. Keiser was the first Blue Jay alumnus to take the reins of the football program since 1971 when Ray Coates (Class of 1940) completed six years as head coach.

In seven campaigns as head coach, Keiser led the Blue Jays into the state playoffs each season, with both the 2007 and the 2010 teams earning a share of the District 10-5A championship. In 2011, Keiser guided the Blue Jays to an undefeated regular season, notching the District 9-5A title along the way.

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