(December 9, 2005) -- The Toronto Raptors announced Friday that Gene Keady has been hired as an assistant coach. Keady, 69, joins Jim Todd, Alex English and Jay Triano as assistants on head coach Sam Mitchell’s coaching staff.

Gene Keady has joined the Raptors. (NBAE/Getty Images)

“I’m excited and honoured to have Gene join our coaching staff,” said Mitchell. “He is a legend in our profession and a welcomed addition. His experience and ability to teach young players will be invaluable to our team.”

Keady retired in March after going 512-270 in 25 seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers. He earned national coach of the year honours six times (second-most by any coach) and Big Ten coach of the year a record seven times, including three straight years from 1994-96. He coached the Boilermakers to six Big Ten championships and finished in the top 10 of the final Associated Press rankings six times.

Keady assisted in the selection process for the 1984 and 1988 U.S. Olympic teams and was an assistant coach on the U.S. team that captured the gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Keady will be with the Raptors for Saturday’s game in Charlotte against the Bobcats.