Career
He served as the head coach at West Tennessee State Normal School, now the University of Memphis, from 1937 to 1938 and at Mississippi State College, now Mississippi State University, from 1939 to 1948, compiling a career college football record of 78–25–3. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1991. McKeen played football as a guard and end at the University of Tennessee from 1925 to 1927, where he earned all-state honors.
He was also the captain of the men"s basketball and track teams.
He helped preserve the tie with Vanderbilt by covering Bill Spears"s receivers. His 1938 team went undefeated at 10–0.
From 1939 to 1948, he coached at Mississippi State, where he compiled a 65–19–3 record. The following year, his squad captured the first and only Southeastern Conference championship in program history.
He retired from coaching in 1948 after being fired by Mississippi State"s athletic director, Dudy Noble.
His.747 coaching record at Mississippi State rivals some of the winningest coaches in the Securities and Exchange Commission.
