CARMEL, Ind. — Former Purdue University basketball coach Gene Keady endorsed Donald Trump on Monday, the eve of the Indiana primary.
Keady preceded Trump onstage and announced that he voted early for Trump. The coach cited Trump’s approach to foreign policy as crucial to his selection.
“I heard his foreign policy speech the other day. I just said he won himself the presidency,” Keady said.
Keady joins former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight as prominent basketball coaches in Indiana who have pledged their support to Trump.
Trump took the stage in Indiana on Monday praising Knight and Keady, and claimed former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz called to say he was supporting Trump, too.
Keady and Knight’s endorsements bring more attention to Ted Cruz’s recent misstatement calling a basketball rim a “basketball ring” in basketball-crazed Indiana.
Cruz has sought to explain away his gaffe by noting that he played high school basketball for a couple of years and misspoke.
Cruz has promoted Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s endorsement and campaigned together across the Hoosier State on Monday.
Trump has touted his celebrity endorsements in Indiana, including from Knight and Keady.
Republicans will vote in Indiana’s primary on Tuesday.
