Following a record-breaking 2024 season, Rob Keefe returns has the Head Coach and President of Football Operations for the Panthers.
In 2024, Bay Area secured the top seed in the Western Conference with a 13-3 record, which established a franchise-record for wins. For the second straight year, the Panthers reached the IFL playoffs after sharing the league lead for regular season wins.
Keefe serves as the team’s defensive coordinator and in 2024, the Panthers ranked second in the IFL in points allowed (37.1), first against the run (59.7 yards per game), tied for second in sacks (24) and led the league in 3rd down conversion defense.
In 2023 under Keefe, the Panthers won the first title in franchise history with a 51-41 win over Sioux Falls in the IFL National Championship Game. Bay Area finished fourth in scoring defense and fourth in sacks. The Panthers did not allow 50 points over the final seven games and closed with five straight wins to finish 13-5 after going 1-15 in 2022.
Keefe was a key figure in Northern Arizona's turnaround turnaround from one win to winning it all in 2022. The Wranglers went 12-4 in the regular season on the way to winning the IFL Championship over Quad City at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV. Under Keefe’s guidance, NAZ had the top-rated defense during the regular season, finished second in scoring defense, tops in fewest yards allowed, second in both rushing and passing yards and number one in sacks.
Keefe was part of the AFL Philadelphia Soul 2008 championship team as a defensive back and a year later started his coaching career working with defensive backs with the Spokane Shock. At the age of 29 he became the youngest head coach in AFL history to win an Arena Football League Championship when he led the Shock to an ArenaBowl victory in their first year in the AFL. He is the only person in Arena Football history to win an Arena Cup (AF2) and ArenaBowl (AFL) title as both a player and a coach. In 2006, Keefe was a defensive back on the Spokane team that won the Arena Cup in their AF2 inaugural campaign.
Following his first head coaching job, Keefe was the defensive coordinator of the Utah Blaze from 2012 to 2013.
Keefe once again became a head coach, leading the Orlando Predators for three seasons from 2014-2016.
He would put on another ring in Albany, leading the Empire for two seasons from 2018-2019, highlighted by a victory in ArenaBowl XXXII.
Keefe posted a career 83-40 record as a head coach in the AFL. He is in the Top 6 for win percentage all-time as a head coach in the AFL at .674 and is tied for 4th for ArenaBowl Championships as a head coach with two.
As a player, Keefe was a defensive back for Mercyhurst College, where he graduated with his degree in Criminal Justice.
Keefe’s Coaching Background:
2023 Bay Area Panthers AHC/DC/ST
2022 Northern Arizona Wranglers AHC/DC/ST
2021 Iowa Barnstormers AHC/DC/ST
2019 Albany Empire HC
2018 Albany Empire HC
2016 Orlando Predators HC
2015 Orlando Predators HC
2014 Orlando Predators HC
2013 Utah Blaze DC
2012 Utah Blaze DC
2011 Spokane Shock HC
2010 Spokane Shock HC
2009 Spokane Shock DC