:Kevin Kelley (American football)

Originally a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Kelley attended Glenwood High School in Glenwood, Arkansas, which has since consolidated with a nearby school to become Centerpoint High School. Kelley then attended Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1992.{{cite web |title=Blue Hose Name Kevin Kelley Football Head Coach |url=https://gobluehose.com/news/2021/5/7/blue-hose-name-kevin-kelley-football-head-coach.aspx |website=Presbyterian College |access-date=May 7, 2021 |language=en |date=May 7, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507181303/https://gobluehose.com/news/2021/5/7/blue-hose-name-kevin-kelley-football-head-coach.aspx |url-status=live }} He was the first member of his family to graduate from college.{{cite web |title=Kevin Kelley - Parety Prize |url=https://www.disruptorawards.com/2014-honoree-blog/2017/1/24/kevin-kelley-parety-prize |website=Disruptor Awards |access-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507211552/https://www.disruptorawards.com/2014-honoree-blog/2017/1/24/kevin-kelley-parety-prize |url-status=live }}

Kelley began his coaching career at the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District in Carrollton, Texas. From 1993 to 1997, in addition to teaching earth science, he served as the head coach of one of the district's 7th-grade teams while also serving as a scout for one of the senior high teams.

Kelley arrived at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1997, and he served as their offensive coordinator until 2002.{{cite web |title=Kevin Kelley - Head Coach - Staff Directory |url=https://gobluehose.com/staff-directory/kevin-kelley/256 |website=Presbyterian College |access-date=May 8, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508054940/https://gobluehose.com/staff-directory/kevin-kelley/256 |url-status=live }} He was promoted to head coach in time for the 2003 season.

From 2003 to 2020, Kelley served as the head football coach at Pulaski Academy. He has gained notoriety for his unique numbers-based coaching strategy, which involves rarely punting and almost always attempting fourth down conversions ("going for it"), onside kicks (unless his team is leading by 21 points or more),{{cite web |title=Kevin Kelley, HS coach who 'never punts', reportedly hired to lead FCS program |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/kevin-kelley-hs-coach-who-never-punts-reportedly-hired-to-lead-fcs-program/ |website=Saturday Down South |access-date=May 7, 2021 |date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507041627/https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/kevin-kelley-hs-coach-who-never-punts-reportedly-hired-to-lead-fcs-program/ |url-status=live }} and two-point conversions.{{cite web |title=Pulaski Academy head football coach Kevin Kelley leaving for college job in South Carolina |url=https://www.thv11.com/article/sports/pulaski-academy-head-football-coach-kevin-kelley-leaving-for-college-job-in-south-carolina/91-fadbb941-e0a3-4eaa-8967-4fa793a66ada |website=THV 11 |access-date=May 6, 2021 |date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507020709/https://www.thv11.com/article/sports/pulaski-academy-head-football-coach-kevin-kelley-leaving-for-college-job-in-south-carolina/91-fadbb941-e0a3-4eaa-8967-4fa793a66ada |url-status=live }} Kelley's teams were consistently competitive; the Bruins won nine Arkansas Activities Association state championships under his direction, were named to the list of the top ten Arkansas football dynasties, at No. 5, by MaxPreps in 2011,{{cite web |title=Top 10 Arkansas football dynasties |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/ziONoo04EeCkhgAcxJSkrA/top-10-arkansas-football-dynasties.htm |website=MaxPreps |access-date=May 6, 2021 |date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510144514/https://www.maxpreps.com/news/ziONoo04EeCkhgAcxJSkrA/top-10-arkansas-football-dynasties.htm |url-status=live }} and as the No. 1 most dominant Arkansas high school football program of the decade in 2020.{{cite web |title=Top 20 most dominant Arkansas high school football programs of last decade |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/_kPbAurJhEOrWNy2ou-Kdw/top-20-most-dominant-arkansas-high-school-football-programs-of-last-decade.htm |website=MaxPreps |access-date=May 7, 2021 |language=en |date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814210050/https://www.maxpreps.com/news/_kPbAurJhEOrWNy2ou-Kdw/top-20-most-dominant-arkansas-high-school-football-programs-of-last-decade.htm |url-status=live }} Additionally, Kelley's offenses own each of the top 12 highest single-season yardage totals in Arkansas high school history.

Pulaski won their first title under Kelley in 2003, in his first season at the helm of the program, and subsequently won titles in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020;{{cite web |last1=Deckelbaum |first1=Kyle |title=Pulaski Academy's Kevin Kelley leaving to coach FCS program |url=https://katv.com/sports/content/pulaski-academy-coach-kevin-kelley-leaving-to-coach-fcs-program |website=KATV |access-date=May 6, 2021 |date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507024233/https://katv.com/sports/content/pulaski-academy-coach-kevin-kelley-leaving-to-coach-fcs-program |url-status=live }} Pulaski's four consecutive titles from 2014 to 2017 made them only the fourth team in Arkansas high school history to do so, and the first since Barton High School from 1986 to 1989. Prior to the start of the 2020 season, Kelley was listed as having the 15th-highest all-time winning percentage among high school football coaches.{{cite web |last1=Askeland |first1=Kevin |title=Top 100 high school football coaches of all-time by win percentage |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/4rMI-KsP1Uqi1ggpjKhamA/50-greatest-high-school-football-coaches-of-all-time.html |website=MaxPreps |access-date=May 7, 2021 |date=September 8, 2020 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215024050/https://www.maxpreps.com/news/4rMI-KsP1Uqi1ggpjKhamA/50-greatest-high-school-football-coaches-of-all-time.html |url-status=dead }}

Kelley was named the USA Today High School Coach of the Year in 2016 and was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in April 2021.{{cite web |last1=Deckelbaum |first1=Kyle |title=Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame honors nine new members |url=https://katv.com/sports/content/arkansas-sports-hall-of-fame-honors-nine-new-members |website=KATV |access-date=May 6, 2021 |date=April 16, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507022936/https://katv.com/sports/content/arkansas-sports-hall-of-fame-honors-nine-new-members |url-status=live }} Bill Belichick said of Kelley in December 2020 that he was "...probably the top high school coach in the country," and mentioned that he "[had] great respect for coach Kelley".{{cite web |title=College Football Program Hires 'Never Punt' High School Coach |url=https://thespun.com/college-football/kevin-kelley-college-football-presbyterian-college-blue-hose-fcs-pioneer-league |website=The Spun |access-date=May 6, 2021 |date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507042543/https://thespun.com/college-football/kevin-kelley-college-football-presbyterian-college-blue-hose-fcs-pioneer-league |url-status=live }} Kelley's strategy has been the subject of reports by The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, and Time, and was included in a chapter of Scorecasting, a book by Toby Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim.{{cite web |title=Blue Hose name Kevin Kelley football head coach |url=http://www.golaurens.com/sports/blue-hose-name-kevin-kelley-football-head-coach/article_ef7735ea-af63-11eb-87b8-5b1f9ccc16b8.html |website=GoLaurens |access-date=May 7, 2021 |language=en |date=May 7, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507185030/http://www.golaurens.com/sports/blue-hose-name-kevin-kelley-football-head-coach/article_ef7735ea-af63-11eb-87b8-5b1f9ccc16b8.html |url-status=live }}

In an interview shortly after he was hired by Presbyterian, Kelley told Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports that he was most proud of his offensive acumen, and noted that his play-calling style was as heavily data-driven as his more publicized special teams idiosyncrasies. Kelley considers his offensive philosophy "intermediate", which he defines as geared heavily toward midrange passes in front of the safeties, with a high percentage of pass plays designed to generate yards after the catch. According to Thamel,{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/all-eyes-on-kevin-kelley-even-bill-belichick-is-curious-if-star-high-school-coach-can-succeed-in-college-160510101.html |title=All eyes on Kevin Kelley — even Bill Belichick is curious if star high school coach can succeed in college |first=Pete |last=Thamel |website=Yahoo Sports |date=May 18, 2021 |accessdate=May 18, 2021 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518165612/https://sports.yahoo.com/all-eyes-on-kevin-kelley-even-bill-belichick-is-curious-if-star-high-school-coach-can-succeed-in-college-160510101.html |url-status=live }}{{blockquote|The "intermediate" offense combines what Kelley considers the two hardest things to do in football — play pass coverages and tackle in space. He estimates that if a quarterback can throw 40 yards, that leaves seven men guarding an area that's 52 yards wide and 40 yards deep. "That's 2,000 square yards that seven guys have to defend," he said. "That's almost 30-yard squares. You know how hard it is?"}}

Following the conclusion of the 2020 season, there were some ideas that led to speculation that Kelley could be considered for a Division I job, namely the head coaching position at Kansas,{{cite web |title=CFB Analyst Has Extremely Bold Idea For Kansas' Next Head Coach |url=https://thespun.com/big-12/kansas-jayhawks/kansas-football-les-miles-fired-scandal-lsu-next-coach-kevin-kelley-pulaski-academy-arkansas |website=The Spun |access-date=May 7, 2021 |date=March 10, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122152/https://thespun.com/big-12/kansas-jayhawks/kansas-football-les-miles-fired-scandal-lsu-next-coach-kevin-kelley-pulaski-academy-arkansas |url-status=live }} a job Kelley supposedly said he would accept for $90,000 per win. Ultimately, Kelley was hired as the 16th head football coach at Presbyterian College on May 6, 2021.{{cite web |title=Presbyterian hiring anti-punting HS coach Kelley |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31400500/presbyterian-hiring-successful-unconventional-hs-coach-kevin-kelley-new-head-coach |website=ESPN |access-date=May 6, 2021 |language=en |date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506234527/https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31400500/presbyterian-hiring-successful-unconventional-hs-coach-kevin-kelley-new-head-coach |url-status=live }} He took over the Blue Hose program for their first full season in the Pioneer Football League after a shortened 2021 spring season under Tommy Spangler.{{cite web |title=Coach who never punts and always attempts onside kicks gets Division I job |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/coach-who-never-punts-and-always-attempts-onside-kicks-gets-division-i-job-213438243.html |website=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=May 7, 2021 |date=May 7, 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507001918/https://sports.yahoo.com/coach-who-never-punts-and-always-attempts-onside-kicks-gets-division-i-job-213438243.html |url-status=live }}

Kelley communicated his decision in an email to Pulaski Academy parents on May 6, and the college officially announced the hire on May 7, 2021.

In Kelley's debut as Presbyterian head coach on September 4, 2021, the Blue Hose broke two significant passing records in their 84–43 win over NAIA member St. Andrews. Ren Hefley threw for 10 touchdowns, breaking the previous FCS record of 9 first set in 1984 by Willie Totten of Mississippi Valley State and equaled in 2007 by Drew Hubel of Portland State. With backup quarterback Tyler Huff adding 2 TD passes, the Blue Hose set a new Division I team record (for both FCS and FBS) of 12, breaking the previous record of 11 set in 1990 by Houston quarterback David Klingler.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32148386/presbyterian-blue-hose-qb-ren-hefley-sets-fcs-td-pass-record-season-opener |title=Presbyterian Blue Hose QB Ren Hefley sets FCS TD pass record in season-opener |agency=Associated Press |website=ESPN.com |date=September 4, 2021 |accessdate=September 4, 2021}}

On December 4, 2021, Presbyterian College announced that Kelley had stepped down as head coach for personal reasons. He amassed a 2-9 record in his only year at Presbyterian.

On December 11, 2023, Kelley was named the new head football coach at Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Arkansas.{{cite web |last1=Olson |first1=Nate |title=Kevin Kelley, the football coach who never punts, formally introduced as new coach at Sheridan (Arkansas) |url=https://highschool.si.com/arkansas/2023/12/13/kevin-kelley-the-football-coach-who-never-punts-formally-introduced-as-new-coach-at-sheridan-arkansas |website=Sports Illustrated |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=11 June 2024 |language=en |date=13 December 2023}}

Kelley and his wife, Dana, have two children.

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Pulaski Academy Bruins

| conf = AAA

| startyear = 2002

| endyear = 2020

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2003

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 13–2

| conference = 6–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2004

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 10–3

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAA State Quarterfinals

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2005

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 11–3

| conference = 6–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAA State Semifinals

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2006

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 12–2

| conference = 6–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2007

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 9–2–1

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Quarterfinals

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2008

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 13–1

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2009

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 9–4

| conference = 5–2

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Semifinal

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2010

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 13–2

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2011

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 15–0

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2012

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 10–3

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Semifinals

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2013

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 11–2

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Quarterfinals

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2014

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 13–1

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2015

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 14–0

| conference = 6–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2016

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 13–1

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2017

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 14–0

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 2018

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 12–2

| conference = 7–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = L

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2019

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 12–2

| conference = 6–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 2020

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 13–0

| conference = 5–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Arkansas Activities Association Class AAAAA State Championship Game

| bowloutcome = W

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Pulaski Academy

| overall = 216–29–1

| confrecord = 117–6

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Sheridan High School Yellowjackets

| conf = AAA

| startyear = 2024

| endyear =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2024

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| overall = 3–8

| conference = 2–5

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Sheridan High School

| overall = 3–8

| confrecord = 2–5

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 216–29–1

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

| legend = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Presbyterian Blue Hose

| conf = Pioneer Football League

| startyear = 2021

| endyear = single

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

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| name = Presbyterian

| overall = 2–9

| conference = 0–8

| confstanding = 11th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Presbyterian

| overall = 2–9

| confrecord = 0–8

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 2–9

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

| legend = no

}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://gobluehose.com/staff-directory/kevin-kelley/256 Presbyterian profile]

{{Presbyterian Blue Hose football coach navbox}}

{{USA Today COY}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelley, Kevin}}

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Presbyterian Blue Hose football coaches

Category:High school football coaches in Arkansas

Category:High school football coaches in Texas

Category:Henderson State University alumni

Category:Sportspeople from Hot Springs, Arkansas

Category:Coaches of American football from Arkansas