Northwestern's Joe McKeown Throws Out First Pitch for Cubs

Northwestern women's basketball head coach Joe McKeown threw out the first pitch of the Cubs vs. Phillies game Monday night.

Play ball! #CubTogether pic.twitter.com/rLfKCMi4xg
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 6, 2021

McKeown was at the helm of the Wildcats 2019-20 powerhouse squad, which won the Big Ten regular season for the just second time in program history. The only other time that the Wildcats secured the same title was in 1989-90. Following the historic season, McKeown was named Big Ten coach of the year, the program's first since Don Perelli in 1990. McKeown ranks 4th among all current NCAA D1 Women's Basketball coaches in total wins.

Fired it in there. ⚾️

@Joe_McKeown700 at The Friendly Confines. 😍#GoCats pic.twitter.com/VhhCwuJPdM
— Northwestern Women’s Basketball (@nuwbball) July 6, 2021

McKeown took a similar approach to Monday night's baseball game that he would expect of his athletes before basketball game—he practiced, showed up to perform, and then executed.

McKeown's pregame efforts were flawlessly captured by his daughter, former Northwestern shooting guard and current women's basketball analyst, Meghan.

We talkin’ ‘bout PRACTICE. @Joe_McKeown700 throws out the first pitch at the @Cubs game tomorrow. Will he make it over home plate?! pic.twitter.com/9izPeeGgvZ
— Meghan (McKeown) Wallace (@McKeown_Wallace) July 4, 2021

Though he was selected because of his success as a basketball coach, McKeown experienced a full-circle moment when throwing out the first pitch Monday night.

The coach spent part of his childhood working as a beer vendor at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia while it was home to the Phillies. It was a sheer coincidence that the Cubs happened to play the Phillies on the same night that McKeown was honored.

"That was so cool," Meghan told SI Wildcats Daily's Lauren Withrow. "For him to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs vs. Phillies game was pretty freaking cool."

All that time at the ballpark as a child coupled with his basketball expertise resulted in a pitch thrown perfectly over home plate.

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