16 Years 256-140
2007-Present 2 years @ Curtis High School – University Place 36-17
1993-2007 14 years@ Lincoln High School- Tacoma 220-123
In his two years at Curtis High School, his alma mater, Coach Kelly has led the Vikings to an impressive 36-17 mark. In each season, the Viks have advanced to the post season, culminating with a state tournament berth in 2009. Curtis advanced to the state quarterfinals and were ranked sixth in the final state poll. The Vikings recorded a 20-9 mark.
In his first season at the Viking helm, Coach Kelly led the Viks to the South Puget Sound League South Division Championship. With no seniors, Curtis concluded the season with a 16-8 record. For his efforts, Coach Kelly was selected as the South Puget Sound League Coach of the Year.
Before coming to Curtis, Kelly was the head coach at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, for 14 years. At Lincoln, the Abes compiled an impressive 220-123 record, tops in the Narrows League during that time. Kelly led the Abes to the Narrows League Championship five times during that span while being named Narrows League Coach of the Year seven times. Lincoln advanced to the State AMA Tournament Championships seven times under his direction. The Abes also played for the West Central District Championship five times during Kelly’s tenure. Under Coach Kelly, Lincoln finished the season ranked as one of the top 10 teams in the entire state of Washington in 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
In 2001-02, Kelly led the Abes to their second consecutive state championship. Finishing the season 27-2, Lincoln became the first school in 13 years to win back-to-back titles. Along the way, the Abes captured their second straight Narrows League and West Central District championships. Lincoln also brought home the prestigious Santa Barbara Holiday Classic crown, in Santa Barbara, California, for the second year in a row.
For his efforts, Kelly was named Washington State Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, and received his second consecutive Wayne Gilman AAAA Coach of the Year Award. Also, for the second consecutive year, Coach Kelly was nominated for the National Federation of High School Coaches Association’s National Coach of the Year Award, representing the Pacific Northwest region.
In 2000-01, Kelly guided the Abes to the greatest season in Lincoln history culminating with the 2001 State AAAA Championship. Lincoln recorded a 29-1 ledger, including an undefeated 16-0 mark in the Narrows League, the only team to ever accomplish the feat. Lincoln also won its first West Central District Championship in school history. The Abes concluded the season as the 10th ranked team in the entire West, and #42 in the nation, according to USA Today.
Before Lincoln, lim was the Head Basketball Coach at North Adams State College, in Massachusetts, for three years. Prior to his east coast experience, Kelly was an assistant coach at Washington State University for three seasons, and an assistant at Eastern Washington University.
Coach Kelly graduated from Curtis in 1979, where he was a three sport letterman for the Vikings, receiving All-South Puget Sound League honors in basketball. He,Gj attended St. Martin’s University, in Olympia, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in History/Political Science and a minor in Physical Education in 1984. As a member of the Saint basketball team, Kelly was a Dean’s List student, Coaches Award winner, and captain during his senior year. He then received his Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Washington State University in 1988.
Coach Kelly’s wife, Gini, is a Speech and Language Pathologist for the University Place School District. She is also a Tacoma native and graduate of Clover Park High School. Gini received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Speech and Hearing from Washington State University. The Kellys have two daughters: Annie (10) and Katy (5). The Kellys also have a four-year-old yellow lab named Lilly.
