LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Before being hired as the head coach of the Bellarmine University lacrosse program, Kevin Burns built stout defenses as an assistant at programs such as Massachusetts and Binghamton while gaining a particularly intimate knowledge and appreciation for the characteristics that make exceptional goalkeepers.

So when it came time to fill out his coaching staff leading into the upcoming season, Burns looked to two individuals who specialized in work around the net during their collegiate careers and who subsequently made their marks as coaches, hiring Kevin McKeown as defensive coordinator and Jay Sothoron as offensive coordinator for the Division I Knights.

McKeown arrives at Bellarmine after experiencing tremendous late-season success in 2013 with Siena, where he was hired in August of 2012 as the defensive coordinator. In his lone season, he helped guide the Saints to the finals of the MAAC Championships. That finals appearance came after a sizzling stretch where Siena won six of seven games, backed by a McKeown defense that allowed 10 goals or less over each of those outings during the run to the conference title game.

Prior to his tenure at Siena, McKeown served as defensive coordinator and goalie coach at alma mater Binghamton for four years. Amid the 2011 season, he was named the interim head coach for the Bearcats and led them to second place in the America East after being picked to finish last in the preseason. McKeown's time at Binghamton followed the start of his coaching career at Elmira College from 2007-08.

McKeown enjoyed a decorated playing career as a goalie while at Binghamton, highlighted by his America East Conference Player of the Year and USILA All-America selections in 2004. He was a two-time captain of the Bearcats and named a USILA Scholar All-American in 2006. During that time is also when he crossed paths with Burns, who was an assistant coach with the program from 2004-06.

"I have been looking forward to the day I would get the chance to work with Kevin McKeown," Burns said. "Having known Kevin since I coached him at Binghamton, I knew that he would be a great fit for our program's continued growth at Bellarmine. Kevin brings terrific playing experience from Binghamton, and this experience will directly benefit our goalies with whom Kevin will be working with in addition to running the defense. 

"Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and has coached with terrific mentors in Ed Stephenson from Binghamton as well as John Svec at Siena. With his background, I know Kevin will build on our defensive success."

Sothoron previously served as the first assistant and defensive coordinator at Robert Morris University. Last season, Sothoron's defense finished third in the country in caused turnovers while also posting a .700 man-down kill percentage. He coached two All-Northeast Conference defensemen in Sean Meagher and Tyler Rankel, with Meagher finishing tops in the country in caused turnovers.

Prior to joining the Division I ranks, Sothoron was the head coach for Division II Wheeling Jesuit University for five seasons and helped spearhead the program's transition from the East Coast Conference to the Eastern College Athletic Conference. In 2013, he helped guide the Cardinals to the ECAC II playoffs, compiling an 11-6 overall record. In 2012, Wheeling Jesuit was named the NCAA Division II Most Improved Program after improving from 4-8 upon his arrival in 2008 to an 11-6 record competing against nationally ranked teams.

Sothoron began his coaching career as the first assistant and defensive coordinator at Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina. He spent two years there and then returned to his high school alma mater, St. Mary's Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Maryland.

At St. Mary's, Sothoron served as an assistant athletic director and varsity assistant head coach for five years while working with his legendary father, John Sothoron. He was named the U.S. Lacrosse National Assistant Coach of the Year for secondary schools in 2006 and was promoted to associate head coach during the 2007 season. St. Mary's Ryken received its first-ever national ranking in 2007 after winning the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship with a record of 19-2. During Sothoron's five years at St. Mary's Ryken, the Knights compiled an overall record of 71-22.

Sothoron played collegiately at Herkimer Community College in Herkimer, New York, a junior college program that finished second in the country during his tenure. A standout goalie, Sothoron was named captain, team MVP and second-team All-America on a team that fell in the national championship game and finished with a 21-1 record.

"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Jay Sothoron," Burns said. "I first got to know Jay when he was the head coach at Wheeling Jesuit and brought his team to Frazier Stadium to scrimmage us a few years ago.  It was apparent that his team was a reflection of his coaching style: disciplined, intelligent and hard working. We later had the opportunity to play against a Coach Sothoron-coached defense when he moved on to Robert Morris. 

"With his hometown connections to Maryland, I have no doubt that Jay will expand our already immense recruiting area. With Jay's leadership, I know he will lead our offense to new heights."