It’s not uncommon for a couple of siblings to play on the same team at Fountain Hills High School, but it’s not too often you hear about a guy coaching his own brother.

In fact, Matt and Austin Keating might be the first such duo in FHHS history.

If you’ve been following Fountain Hills boys basketball news for the past decade, you’ve likely heard the last name “Keating” thrown around quite a bit.

Bruce Keating, the father of the bunch, used to serve as assistant coach for the team. Matt, the oldest of four sons, graduated from FHHS in 2004 after playing for the squad. Patrick came next, followed by Kyle, and finally Austin.

Considering the fact that Matt’s infant son is on-hand during this year’s practices, it’s unlikely that the lineage will end with Austin, either.

“Yeah, you can’t get rid of us,” Matt said, laughing.

Matt actually started assistant coaching as soon as he graduated from the Falcon nest, helping out the team when he wasn’t busy attending ASU.

“So 10 or 11 years now, I’ve been involved with the team,” Matt explained.

“It’s been fun. It’s been interesting. We all love basketball and my mom is a saint for dealing with it all.”

Austin, the youngest of the four siblings, said he grew up in the FHHS gym.

“Basketball has always been my go-to sport,” he said.

“I didn’t have much of a choice, I guess, with three older brothers playing. Being able to learn from the older players, who took me under their wings, was really cool.”

On the opposite side of the coin, Matt has been able to share his basketball knowledge with all of his younger siblings, and now he’s doing it professionally with Austin, who graduates this June.

“It’s been fun working with the guys,” Matt said.

“Austin is 10 years behind me, so it’s been a lot of fun.”

Matt studied secondary education in college and now teaches history at FHHS. He’s also had Austin in his own classroom for several years.

As for basketball, Matt said he started off studying business at ASU, planning on a different career path.

His first three years assistant coaching for the team were all state championships, though, and said that being around that success and the gym he had become so familiar with simply changed his course.

“I fell in love with it and switched majors in college,” Matt added.

“That was actually the spark that got me into education.”

Austin said he’s excited to graduate and, while he’s focusing on the current season right now, he’s hopeful that he’ll be able to play some college ball.

“If that’s not the route I take, I think I’ll stick with an in-state school and get into a sustainability program,” he said.

Speaking to their sibling ties on the court, Austin said that Matt is actually harder on him than most coaches would be.

“But that’s been good for me,” he said.

“I need that structure. He’s not just my coach, he’s also my brother and my best friend. That’s made him a great mentor for me, a role model and a leader.”

Matt said it’s been a fun ride for him, too.

“If it had been one of the other [brothers] it might have been interesting, but [Austin] is a good kid,” he added.

“It’s a unique experience. Yes, I’m a little harder on him and sometimes that might not be fair, but I think that gives him some extra drive. It’s a joy. It’s fun every day getting to work with him and see him grow.”

The Keatings admit that basketball is basically “the” topic of conversation in their household, including regular family get-togethers after each game to discuss what went right, what went wrong, etc.

Here at the end of the 2014-15 run, the Falcons sit on a record bearing only two regular season losses.

“Top to bottom, we’ve got a great group of guys,” Matt said.

“We’ve got a group of seven seniors who have been playing together since middle school, so we’re expecting big things this year.”

Austin agreed, saying that he and the rest of the Falons are hoping for an equally successful postseason.

“We’re hoping for big things,” he said.

“We’re excited.”