Jan. 9, 2006
Washington, D.C. - Kevin Kelly was named head football coach at Georgetown University, it was announced today by Director of Athletics Bernard Muir. Kelly takes over for Bob Benson, who resigned in December after 13 years at the helm of the program.
"I'm excited to have Kevin join us here at Georgetown," Muir said. "He has had tremendous success in every stop he's made and we think he's going to be a great fit for the University."
"Providing the students at Georgetown with an outstanding opportunity to grow and learn about themselves through competition is the central objective of all of our athletic programs here at Georgetown," Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia said. "Coach Kelly brings a wealth of experience, ability and energy to achieving that objective in the sport of Football."
Kelly comes to the Hilltop after four years as the special teams coordinator/linebackers coach at the United States Naval Academy, where he helped lead the Midshipmen to tremendous success during that span. Navy advanced to three bowl games and posted a 26-11 record during the last three seasons (2003-05).
Kevin Kelly helped lead Navy to three bowl appearances in four years, including the 2004 Emerald Bowl title and the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl championship.
Navy won three Commander-in-Chief titles during his time in Annapolis (2003-05), won the 2004 Emerald Bowl, the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl and participated in the 2003 Houston Bowl.
"This is a great opportunity and I'm excited to take over as the Georgetown head coach," Kelly said. "There is a tremendous amount of potential for football in Washington and we're confident that we can guide the Hoya program to the top of the Patriot League."
Prior to joining Navy, Kelly spent two years (2000-01) at Marshall, one of two coaching stints with the Thundering Herd, where he was the defensive coordinator. In 2000, Marshall won the Mid-American Conference Championship and the Motor City Bowl and they followed that up with a win at the 2001 GMAC Bowl.
"Kevin's played a vital role in helping us get the program turned around at Navy and we certainly appreciate the effort of both he, and his family, and we look forward to watching him be successful at Georgetown," Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson. "He's a highly motivated and organized individual and I'm sure he will do a great job for Georgetown football."
Kelly also worked at Marshall from 1996-98, when the team was making the transition from the I-AA level to I-A. In 1996, the team won the Southern Conference en route to the Division I-AA National Championship. They won back-to-back Mid-American Conference Championships in 1996-97, reaching the Motor City Bowl in both years, and winning it the second time.
Kelly spent a year at Syracuse (1999), where he was the defensive backfield coach when the team won the Music City Bowl. That was his second stint with the Orangemen, as he was a graduate assistant/assistant linebackers coach there from 1986-88, when the team won the 1987 Lambert Cup and reached the 1988 Sugar Bowl. Kelly's other Division I-A experience came at Tulane (1992-94), where he was the linebackers coach.
Kelly A 1982 graduate of Springfield (Mass.) College, Kelly helped the Navy defense rank among the best in the country during the last three years. The Midshipmen won a school record-tying 10 games in 2004.
He also spent time at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he served as the offensive backfield coach and the linebackers coach. The Big Green won the 1991 Ivy League title. Kelly has also had coaching stints at Northeastern (1989-90), Bowdoin College (1998) and Southern Connecticut State University (1984-85).
A 1982 graduate of Springfield (Mass.) College, Kelly earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education and played football for three years as an undergraduate. He earned a master's degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut State in 1986.
His first coaching job was at Longmeadow High School in Massachusetts, where he was the defensive coordinator and defensive backfield coach in 1981. After graduating from Springfield in 1982, Kelly went to The Fieldston School, where he was the head coach for two years. He also served as a junior varsity basketball coach and the head track and field coach.
During Kelly's 20-plus years of experience in coaching at the collegiate level, he has recruited numerous players who have gone on to professional careers, including former Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich, who is playing in the National Football League with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kelly has predominantly recruited on the East Coast, with emphasis in Washington, Maryland and New Jersey.