Keith Dambrot

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Keith B. Dambrot (born October 26, 1958 in Akron, Ohio) is the current men's basketball head coach of the University of Akron. Dambrot also played baseball for the University of Akron.

Dambrot took over the job in March 2004. He guided the Akron Zips to a 19-11 in his first season. Dambrot has been head coach of the St.Vincent-St.Mary High School from 1998 to 2001, guiding the Fighting Irish to a 69-10 record overall and a perfect 27-0 in 1999/2000, winning a couple of state championships along the way. A key component to those squads was NBA phenom LeBron James. Prior to his stint at STVM, Dambrot coached the Central Michigan University to a 20-34 record in two seasons (91/92 and 92/93), where he was fired for making racist comments to his players during a loss to Miami (OH). According to court records Dambrot asked, "Do you mind if I use the N word?" After one or some of the players apparently indicated it was okay, Dambrot said "you know we need to have more niggers on our team. . . . Coach McDowell is a nigger, . . . Sand[er] Scott who's an academic All-American, a Caucasian, I said Sand[er] Scott is a nigger. He's hard nose, [sic] he's tough, et cetera." He testified he intended to use the term in a "positive and reinforcing" manner. The players often referred to each other using the N-word during games and around campus and in the locker room. Dambrot stated he used the word in the same manner in which the players used the term amongst themselves, "to connote a person who is fearless, mentally strong and tough." After being fired, Dambrot unsuccessfully sued CMU.