Army offensive line coaches Bill Tripp and Gene McKeehan have retired, multiple sources have confirmed.
Tripp (tackles) and McKeehan (center and guards) built a solid offensive line season in and season out in their four years together at West Point.
Army’s offensive-line play was a key to the Black Knights leading the nation in rushing the past two seasons.
Both Tripp and McKeehan came over from Cal Poly with Rich Ellerson when he took the Army head coaching position in 2009. Players were ready when called upon in Tripp and McKeehan’s four seasons. Army started 20 different offensive linemen from 2009-12.
Tripp, a 1966 Newburgh Free Academy graduate, coached 42 years, 28 at the college level. He was the head coach at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Ariz. when Army coach Rich Ellerson was a player in early 1970s.
McKeehan, who also served as Army’s associate head coach, finished his 41st season of coaching. He became his career as a graduate assistant at Utah State in 1971. McKeehan coached at Wake Forest, Virginia, Navy and Cal Poly.
