Hall of Fame
Tyler Kathan was a dominant force on the hardwood for Keene State College from 2005-09, and is one of the most decorated players in Little East Conference men’s basketball history, earning all-LEC honors in each of his four seasons and garnering a major award in three of his four collegiate seasons.
Kathan was named the 2005-06 LEC Rookie of the Year, the first in program history, and was a LEC All-Rookie selection after averaging 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while helping lead the Owls to a 21-8 overall record. The Owls advanced to the LEC title game in his first season and went on to advance to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament semifinals.
The Ludlow, Vermont native followed that up by earning First Team All-LEC honors each of the next three seasons and was named the LEC Player of the Year following his sophomore and senior campaigns. He was the first Owl to be named LEC Player of the Year on multiple occasions, and was first-ever Keene State player to be named a three-time First Team All-LEC pick.
Kathan would lead the Owls back to the LEC title game as a sophomore and an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, where Keene State posted victories over Rivier (81-47) and Salem State (76-75) on its way to a Sweet 16 appearance. The Owls went 25-6 that season to tie the program record for wins, a mark that still stands today, while Kathan averaged a team-best 16 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and earned his first LEC Player of the Year award.
Kathan secured his second LEC Player of the Year honor and was named a D3hoops.com Third Team All-American as a senior in 2008-09, which saw him average a team-best 18.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest - his 10.2 rebounds per game ranked 24th in DIII that season. He concluded his collegiate career and remains among Keene State’s career leaders in a number of categories, including points (1,799), field goals made (615), three-point field goals made (196), free throws made (373), rebounds (935) and rebounds per game (8.3).
Kathan earned his bachelor’s degree in safety studies from Keene State in 2009, and was inducted into the College’s Athletics/Alumni Hall of Fame in 2017. He went on to play professionally following graduation in Europe, suiting up for teams based in England and Germany.