Central High School Coach Honored With Statue at Hardin-Simmons University

ABILENE, TX –– Hardin-Simmons University announced it will unveil two life-size statues of legendary football coaches later this year.

The statues will feature Coach Sammy Baugh and san San Angelo native Coach Jimmie Keeling.

Baugh coached the HSU cowboys after playing for the NFL from 1955 to 1959. He would go on to coach the New York Titans (now known as the New York Jets) and serve as an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa.

Baugh was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1963. His statue will be unveiled at the September 18th games against Belhaven.

Keeling's statue will be unveiled at HSU's Homecoming game on October 23 against Southwestern.

Coach Keeling was born in San Angelo in 1935 and coached the Central High School Bobcats from 1979 to 1988. Keeling would then spend 20 years working at Hardin-Simmons. He is credited with resurrecting the football program and leading the Cowboys to win 187 games and make eleven playoff appearances in the NAIA and NCAA Division III ranks.

Both statues have been constructed by HSU art Professor Steve Neves. Neves' work can also be appreciated in the sculptures at the Storybook Gardens in downtown Abilene.