Feb 18, 2018 5 min read

Though he has taken an unconventional route to becoming a head coach in collegiate women’s lacrosse, Tommy Kelly feels he has a bit of an advantage.

The 2008 graduate of Washington High School never played lacrosse. He was a basketball player for the Prexies and at Slippery Rock University, where he appeared in 89 games, scored 344 career points and helped The Rock to the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time in 20 years in the 2010-11 season. Kelly was part of the winningest senior class in school history for the men’s basketball program.

Kelly was hired a month ago by Davis & Elkins College, located in Elkins, W.Va., after serving as an assistant coach at Slippery Rock for five seasons, including the last two as primary assistant.

“I have an open mind and that helped me make the transition from basketball to lacrosse,” Kelly explained. “The lacrosse coach at Slippery Rock gave me an opportunity, took a chance on me.”

Kelly said he was looking for a graduate assistant position as he pursued a master’s degree after graduating from Slippery Rock. He had to pick between a position in the admissions office and women’s lacrosse.

“I was looking for (financial) help to pay for tuition and graduate school is expensive,” he said. “If I couldn’t find anything, graduate school probably was not going to happen. I really didn’t want to do admissions. So I called the coach and, timing is everything, I guess. She brought me in.”

Through video study and reading and learning, Kelly picked up the game, which he says is similar to basketball.

“She helped me with the terminology,” Kelly said of the coach at the time. “Certainly, I did not take the traditional route to coaching lacrosse.”

Prior to his role as the primary assistant coach, Kelly spent three seasons as a graduate assistant on the staff.

Kelly helped guide the team to three straight winning seasons, going 12-6 in 2017 and 9-8 marks in 2016 and 2015. He helped guide the team to a total of 14 wins during the two years before that.

During his time in Slippery Rock, Kelly focused on the defense and was the key facilitator of practice and game preparation, while also working heavily in recruiting.

After last season, Slippery Rock made a coaching change and that left Kelly on the outside.

He took a position in the admissions office at Washington & Jefferson College during the summer.

Davis & Elkins didn’t lose sight of Kelly. When the Senators head coaching position opened, he received a call, and an interview, and a job offer.

“The athletic director at Davis & Elkins knew the sports information director at Slippery Rock. They spoke. The AD did his research, contacted me and my references.

“They brought me down to campus and offered me the job.”

Kelly’s rise in lacrosse has been fueled by his hard work and willingness to listen and learn.

“Tommy brings strong experience and a unique prospective of transitioning from a successful basketball career to coaching women’s lacrosse,” said Jamie Joss, Davis & Elkins athletic director. “This has served him well in assisting the Slippery Rock women’s program and in his recruiting, maximizing the potential of each student athlete.

“Tommy has high expectations for continuing the growth of our program and developing a culture of success on and off the field.”

Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in safety management from Slippery Rock in 2012, and a master’s degree in criminal justice in 2015.

He credits his time at Slippery Rock and the short time spent at W&J being mentored by Robert Adkins, the college’s admissions director, for his success.

“It was tough leaving the job in my hometown that I was just starting to have confidence in,” Kelly said. “It was awkward timing starting, right before school started, but Bob Adkins made things much easier. He always helped me and was a great mentor.”

Kelly hopes to bring some fresh ideas and his unique approach to the Senators women’s program and to also use his recruiting skills to attract talent from his home area to Elkins.

“I had to spend more time, do more work than anybody else because if I didn’t, then the knowledge gap would have never closed for me,” Kelly said. “Basketball is similar to lacrosse. I am hoping to allow girls basketball players understand that there is another sport and opportunity out there for them.

“At first, it was scary, wondering if I was doing and saying the right things. But I am confident and happy but not satisfied. I have a long way to go and I am not a know-it-all. I am open to new things, suggestions and input. Lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport. I am excited to be part of it.”