Coach Kelly has been a staple at WNMU for the last 35 years as an assistant football coach.
During the 2012 season, the defense came away with 63 tackles for loss, 32 sacks and 11 interceptions. As a team they had 825 tackles, 435 solo.
Coach Chuck Kelly helped lead a defense in 2011 that recorded 77 tackles for loss, 28 sacks and 14 interceptions.
At Western New Mexico University, Kelly has worked with the linebackers and defensive line during his tenure. This season he will work specifically with the defensive line.
Kelly started his coaching career at the famous Mt. Carmel High School in the tough Chicago Catholic League. He was selected the Coach of the Year. After a short stint at Wausau High School (Wisconsin) as a football coach and head wrestling coach, he joined the college ranks. Kelly worked with the linebackers at New Mexico State University and then went on to become the offensive coordinator for the Aggies under Coach Jim Bradley.
Kelly grew up in Chicago, Illinois and attended high school at the first place he coached, Mt. Carmel High School. He started on the “City Champion” football team and was selected as an all-city linebacker.
After high school, he headed west to attend the University of New Mexico where he was a three-year starting linebacker on the three-time WAC Champion Lobo football team. He can proudly say he was a significant part of one of the best teams in the history of UNM football. Kelly was a Second-Team All-WAC selection during his term there.
Kelly is now retired after 32 years as the WNMU financial aid director.
