Jim Kelly (coach) explained

Jim Kelly
Birth Date:3 July 1893
Birth Place:Fonda, Iowa, U.S.
Death Place:Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Alma Mater:Buena Vista College
Morningside College
University of South Dakota
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:1911–1921
Coach Team2:Fonda HS (IA)
Coach Years3:1922–1925
Coach Team3:Buena Vista
Coach Years4:1932–1933
Coach Team4:DePaul (co-HC)
Coach Years5:1934–1936
Coach Team5:DePaul
Coach Sport6:Basketball
Coach Years7:1911–1921
Coach Team7:Fonda HS (IA)
Coach Years8:1922–1925
Coach Team8:Buena Vista
Coach Years9:1929–1936
Coach Team9:DePaul
Coach Sport10:Track and field
Coach Years11:1911–1921
Coach Team11:Fonda HS (IA)
Coach Years12:1922–1925
Coach Team12:Buena Vista
Coach Years13:1926–1936
Coach Team13:DePaul
Coach Years14:1937–1963
Coach Team14:Minnesota
Coach Years15:1956
Coach Team15:USA Olympic
Admin Years1:?–1937
Admin Team1:DePaul
Overall Record:54–13–7 (college football)

James Dennis Kelly (July 3, 1893 – July 11, 1972) was an American football, basketball, and track and field coach and college athletics administrator. He coached at DePaul University and the University of Minnesota and was head coach of the United States track and field team at the 1956 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Kelly was born on a farm near Fonda, Iowa on July 3, 1893; he was the third of five children in the family.[1] In high school, he was a hurdler and middle-distance runner and played football and basketball.[1] He studied at Buena Vista College, Morningside College, and the University of South Dakota; after graduating from South Dakota, he returned to Fonda as an all-sports high school coach, and then to Buena Vista as a collegiate basketball, football and track coach.[1] His teams at Buena Vista put up good records in all three sports, including winning the 1925–26 Iowa Conference basketball championship; he left in 1926, moving to DePaul University.[1] [2] From 1929 to 1936 he served as DePaul's head basketball coach, compiling a 99–22 record; he was also the head football coach and athletic director.[3] [4]

In 1937 Kelly moved to the University of Minnesota as the head track coach.[1] Kelly's start at Minnesota was slow, but he eventually built a successful program; the Minnesota Golden Gophers won the NCAA team championship in 1948, the only time they have won the title.[1] [5] At Minnesota, Kelly introduced an improved discus throw technique based on speed and good footwork; two of his pupils, Bob Fitch and Fortune Gordien, set new world records in the discus with the "Minnesota Whip". The technique eventually became the new standard.[1] In 1956 he was head coach of the United States men's track and field team at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne; the Americans topped the medal table with 15 gold medals.[6]

Kelly retired as Minnesota's track coach in 1963 but remained active in track and field as an official.[1] He died in Woodland Hills, California on July 11, 1972, aged 79.[7]

Head coaching record

College football

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kelly Added to Register's Hall of Fame . White, Maury . March 30, 1969 . July 16, 2016 . The Des Moines Register.
  2. Web site: Jim Kelly Hangs Up Fine Record . May 31, 1926 . July 18, 2016 . The Des Moines Register.
  3. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/k/kellyji01.html Jim Kelly
  4. News: Connor is Named Kelly's Successor . . . . March 10, 1937 . March 12, 2015 .
  5. 1948 NCAA Men . July 18, 2016 . Hill, E. Garry . Track & Field News.
  6. Web site: Jim Kelly . University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site . July 18, 2016.
  7. Web site: Sports Briefs . . July 18, 2016 . July 13, 1972.