ORONO —  Former University of Maine men’s basketball coach Rudy Keeling died in his home in Londonderry, N.H., Saturday after a brief illness, according to a news release from the University of Maine.

He was 64.

“The Black Bear men’s basketball program, and the entire UMaine community is deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of coach Keeling,” said Maine head coach Ted Woodward. “He was an outstanding coach, a first-class person and representative of the University of Maine, and a beloved and highly respected member of the entire basketball coaching community.

“He touched many lives of young people here at Maine, was an outstanding example of character, integrity, and intelligence, and his influence has, and will continue to be felt throughout our great school and all of college athletics,” Woodward added. “It has always been an honor to follow in his footsteps at the University of Maine and the wonderful example he provided daily and throughout his career. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and to all the outstanding young men who had the tremendous opportunity to be coached and mentored by him.”

Keeling served as head coach at Maine from 1988-1996 where he compiled a record of 104-124. He earned North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1993-94 while leading UMaine to a school-record 20 wins.

Following his time at the University of Maine, he was head coach at Northeastern University for five seasons. Prior to Maine, Keeling served as an assistant coach at both Marquette University and Bradley University.

After Northeastern, Keeling served as athletic director at Emerson College in Boston. In May of 2007, he was named the commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, where he served until this past January.

Keeling graduated from Quincy College in Illinois in 1970. He and his wife, Jane, raised four children.

When Keeling was hired for the ECAC post, he received words of support from Kevin White, current athletic director at Duke, who served as UMaine’s AD from 1987-91.

“Rudy Keeling will provide great leadership to the ECAC,” White said. “Without question, he is strong and determined, very bright and clearly passionate about intercollegiate athletics. Rudy’s vast experiences in both administration and coaching will serve his unique constituency.”

As ECAC commissioner, Keeling was responsible for providing leadership, direction, consultation and support for the conference’s programs. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the formation of the Division II Lacrosse League, expanding Division I Lacrosse membership, creating the Holiday Festival Basketball Tournament at Walt Disney World, the Labor Day Soccer Classic and establishing the ECAC as the host for the NCAA Division I men’s hockey Frozen Four in 2014, according to an ECAC news release.

The release added that Keeling consistently represented the ECAC and its constituency in the highest manner to other national, regional and local athletics governing bodies and educational institutions, as well as private and public organizations.