Background
Kehoe grew up in Saint Louis and graduated from Saint Louis University High School in 1947.
Kehoe grew up in Saint Louis and graduated from Saint Louis University High School in 1947.
He earned four caps as captain of the United States. national team in 1965. He later coached the United States national team in 1972. He was also the first United States. born coach in the North American Soccer League.
He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989.
He played on the school’s first soccer team in 1943. After high school, he spent time in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, but soon returned to soccer.
When he did, he joined Saint Louis Kutis. In 1968, he played with the Saint Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League (NASL) His first game with the national team came in a 2-2 tie with Mexico on March 7, 1965.
Kehoe and his team mates then lost to Mexico five days later, defeated Honduras on March 17 and tied them four days later.
With a 1-1-2 record, the United States. failed to qualify for the finals. In 1969, Kehoe moved from player to coach with the Saint Louis Stars. He became the first United States.-born coach in the NASL in the 1969 and 1970 season.
During his two seasons as head coach, he used rosters of predominantly United States. born players, unlike most other coaches in the NASL. In 1972, the United States. Soccer Federation hired Kehoe as coach of the United States. national team
In 1973, he became the head coach of Granite City North High School where he joined former team mate Ruben Mendoza as a developer of local youth players. He remained with the school until 1983.
That year, he became the head coach of the Bud Light women's over-30 team The Bud team went to the women's over 30 national championship game every year from 1983 to 1988.
During those years, Kehoe also served as the Director of for the Busch Soccer Club.
In addition to coaching the Bud Women's team and acting as the Director of for the Busch Soccer Club, Kehoe was a radio and television commentator for the Saint Louis Steamers of Major Indoor Soccer League from 1983-1988.