The 2023 season marked Gibbs Keeton's first at the helm of the program after taking over in January 2023. He brought on 10 newcomers to the squad, including six freshman and four transfers.

Keeton mentored three student-athletes to CUSA all-conference honors, Sheyliene Patolo (CUSA All-Conference Third Team) Nicole Morales (CUSA All-Freshman Team) and Ashlyn Neireiter (All-Freshman Team).

Patolo tied for the team lead in goals scored (three) and shots on goal (seven). She ranked third in total shots (14). Two of her three goals were rockets from 20+ yards away from goal.

Morales led all Miners in shots (17) and was tied for first in shots on goal (seven). She tallied two goals and served up one assist in her debut season, including scoring the game winner against WKU.

Neireiter was one of only four Miners to start every match this season. She ranked third on the team in minutes with 1,464. She scored one goal at San Diego State and tallied nine shots (six on goal).

Under Keeton, two student-athletes excelled in the classroom and earned spots on the CUSA All-Academic Teams. Cayman Tamez (3.81 GPA, Criminal Justice) and Maia Rodriguez (3.57 GPA, Nursing) were selected to the CUSA All-Academic First and Second teams, respectively.

The duo was also selected to the College Sports Communicators 2023 Academic All-District Team, which marks the first time since 2015 that two Miners have earned a spot on the All-District Team.

Keeton’s return to the Borderland also sparked a renewed interest in the team from El Paso fans. In 2023, attendance more than doubled from the 2022 season. The average attendance of 426 was the highest since 2016 when UTEP Soccer averaged 540 fans under former head coach Kevin Cross.

Keeton was named UTEP's soccer head coach in December of 2022.

An El Paso native and Montwood High School graduate, Keeton joined the Miners from Texas Tech, where he served as Associate Head Coach for the previous four years.  He was a member of the Red Raider staff since 2009 and coordinated recruiting efforts for the program since 2013.  During his tenure in Lubbock, he helped orchestrate a turnaround from Big 12 bottom dweller to perennial NCAA Tournament contender.

Texas Tech finished in the top-five of the Big 12 standings nine times over the last 12 seasons with Keeton on staff, including tied for second (9-4-6 overall, 5-1-3 league) during the 2022 campaign.  The Red Raiders also finished second in the Big 12 in 2013 (18-2-3, 6-0-2) and 2019 (15-4-3, 6-1-2).  In 2015, Texas Tech made a run to the Big 12 Tournament championship as a 5 seed, defeating Kansas, 1-0, in the final.  

The Red Raiders earned NCAA Tournament bids during the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 seasons, posting a combined six victories in the event while reaching the “Sweet 16” in 2014.  

Keeton coached 16 Red Raiders to the professional ranks during his time at Texas Tech, including current NWSL pros Janine Beckie (Portland Thorns/Canada WNT), Kirsten Davis (Racing Louisville), and Jaelene Daniels (NC Courage).  Red Raiders playing abroad include Carly Wickenheiser (Sweden) and Brooke Denesik (Germany), who were part of the 2018 team that posted a nation-leading 14 shutouts and a conference-best 0.53 goals against average.  Also abroad is Keeton-coached goalkeeper Victoria Esson (Scotland), who holds the Tech record for shutouts with 29 and has been capped four times by the New Zealand Women’s National Team. 

In 2013, Texas Tech set a school record with 17 shutouts and a .739 shutout percentage that ranked second in the country.  The Red Raiders were third in the NCAA in goals against average and sixth in save percentage that year.  

Keeton was involved with all aspects of the daily operation of Texas Tech Soccer, including practice planning and implementation, opponent scouting, strength and conditioning and scheduling.  As Director of Recruiting, he fostered relationships with major youth clubs in Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Omaha, Phoenix, San Antonio, Southern California and Tucson.  He was also the soccer camp director at Texas Tech; through his efforts, the camp attendance grew by 15 percent annually.  

He earned his B.S. in Exercise Sports Science from Texas Tech in 2007, and his M.S. in Health Exercise Sport Science in 2008.  The Montwood grad played his collegiate soccer at Grand Canyon University and was a member of the Arizona Sahuaros of the Professional Development League prior to enrolling at Texas Tech.