Mike Kelly (basketball)

For other people named Mike Kelly, see Mike Kelly (disambiguation).

Mike Kelly
Kelly with the Perth Wildcats in 2022
Personal information
Born (1967-11-20) 20 November 1967 (age 56)
NationalityAmerican / Australian
Listed height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Listed weight96 kg (212 lb)
Career information
High schoolMater Dei
(Santa Ana, California)
College
NBA draft1989: undrafted
Playing career1989–2006
PositionSmall forward / shooting guard
Coaching career2005–present
Career history
As player:
1989Lucky Cement Basketball Team
1990Griffith Demons
1991–1993North East Melbourne Arrows
1993Hobart Devils
1994–1995Nunawading Spectres
1994; 1996–1998S.E. Melbourne Magic
1998–1999Victoria Titans
1999–2004Townsville Crocodiles
2004–2006Wollongong Hawks
As coach:
2005–2006Wollongong Hawks (assistant)
2006–2008Vanguard (assistant)
2008–2013Utah Valley (assistant)
2013–2015Townsville Crocodiles (assistant)
2015–2018Melbourne United (associate HC)
2018–2021Cairns Taipans
2021–2023Perth Wildcats (associate HC)
2023–2024S.E. Melbourne Phoenix
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

Mike Kelly (born 20 November 1967) is an American-Australian professional basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for Orange Coast College and Westmont College before playing professionally in Australia. He played 13 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 1993 and 2006, winning an NBL championship with the South East Melbourne Magic in 1996 while earning grand final MVP honours. In 1997 and 1998, he earned back-to-back NBL Best Defensive Player selection. He moved into coaching after retiring as a player, where he served as a college assistant for seven years before returning to the NBL in 2013. In 2018, he won an NBL championship as an assistant with Melbourne United. Two years later, he won NBL Coach of the Year as head coach of the Cairns Taipans. He was appointed head coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix in 2023 but left in October 2024 after starting the 2024–25 NBL season with a 0–5 record.

High school and college

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Kelly grew up in Costa Mesa, California.[1] He attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, and helped the basketball team earn the 1985 CIF Championship with a 29–0 record before beginning his collegiate career at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Following a two-year tenure at OCC, he was recruited to play at Westmont College in the GSAC. Kelly served as team captain for the Warriors and was a two-time All-GSAC player. He helped Westmont win the 1988 NAIA District III Championship, with the team earning a trip to the NAIA National Tournament.[1] In 50 games with the Warriors, he averaged 14.2 points per game, 17th on the Warriors all-time list.[2] He also averaged 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.[3] He graduated from Westmont in 1989 with an economics and business degree.[3]

Professional career

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Following his college career, Kelly spent one year in Taiwan playing for the Lucky Cement Basketball Team before moving to Australia.[1] He first played for the Griffith Demons in New South Wales state league division two[4] before playing in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) for the North East Melbourne Arrows (1991–1993) and the Nunawading Spectres (1994–1995).[5] The Arrows won the 1993 ABA national championship.[6][7]

Kelly debuted in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the 1993 season with a two-game stint with the Hobart Devils. During the 1994 NBL season, he had a two-game stint with the South East Melbourne Magic.[8] His first full season in the NBL came during the 1996 season, playing 33 games for the South East Melbourne Magic[8] and helping the team win the NBL championship behind his grand final MVP performance.[1] He continued with the Magic in the 1997 season and the 1998 season,[8] where he won the NBL Best Defensive Player both years.[1]

For the 1998–99 NBL season, Kelly joined the Victoria Titans.[8][9]

For the 1999–2000 NBL season, Kelly joined the Townsville Crocodiles. He played five seasons for the Crocodiles.[8][10]

For the 2004–05 NBL season, Kelly joined the Wollongong Hawks. He spent two seasons with the Hawks, playing 37 games in 2004–05 and four games in 2005–06.[8] He also served as assistant coach with the Hawks in 2005–06.[4]

Coaching career

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After his final NBL season, Kelly returned to the U.S. for seven years, where he served as assistant coach in the college ranks.[4] His first season was in 2006–07 with Vanguard University under head coach Fred Litzenberger.[11] After two years at the NAIA level,[4] Kelly joined Utah Valley University for the 2008–09 season.[12] He spent five seasons with Utah Valley at the NCAA Division I level.[4][13][14]

Kelly returned to Australia in 2013. He served as an assistant coach with the Townsville Crocodiles in 2013–14[15] and 2014–15.[16]

For the 2015–16 NBL season, Kelly joined Melbourne United as an assistant coach. He served in the role for three seasons, helping United win the 2017–18 NBL championship.[17]

In April 2018, Kelly was appointed head coach of the Cairns Taipans.[17][18] The team endured a 14-game losing streak in the 2018–19 NBL season[19] and finished last with a 6–22 record.

In his second year in Cairns, Kelly's team improved to third on the ladder with a 16–12 record.[20] The Taipans lost 2–1 to the Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals[21] while Kelly was named NBL Coach of the Year for the 2019–20 season.[22] Kelly subsequently re-signed with the club on a two-year deal.[23]

In the 2020–21 NBL season, the Taipans returned to the bottom of the ladder with a 8–28 record. Kelly parted ways with the club in May 2021.[24]

On 26 July 2021, Kelly was announced as the associate head coach of the Perth Wildcats on a two-year contract.[25]

On 30 March 2023, Kelly was appointed head coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix.[26] In the 2023–24 NBL season, the Phoenix finished 10th with a league-worst 10–18 record.[27] On 13 October 2024, he parted ways with the Phoenix after starting the 2024–25 NBL season with a 0–5 record.[28]

Personal life

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Kelly and his wife Annette have three children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Mike Kelly - Assistant Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches". Vanguard University. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Still Ruling the Court Down Under". Westmont College. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Heiduk, Tim (27 May 2020). "Former Warrior Mike Kelly Coaching Down Under". Westmont College Athletics. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Team behind the team: Mike Kelly". heraldsun.com.au. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Mike Kelly - Player Statistics". GameDay. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  6. ^ "ABA PREMIER AND RUNNERS-UP CLUBS". ABABasketball.net.au. Archived from the original on 7 April 2001.
  7. ^ "FROM THE VAULT - 1993 CBA FINAL - MURRAY BRIDGE vs NE MELBOURNE". SEABL.com.au. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Mike Kelly". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Mike Kelly – Player Statistics". SportsTG.[dead link]
  10. ^ "Crocs release Kelly in player shake-up". ABC News. 15 March 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  11. ^ "2006-07 Men's Basketball Roster". Vanguard University. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  12. ^ "2008-2009 Utah Valley Wolverines". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Utah Valley Wolverine Athletics – Mike Kelly". gouvu.com.
  14. ^ "2012-2013 Utah Valley Wolverines". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  15. ^ Butterworth, Liam (19 November 2013). "Townsville Crocodiles assistant coach Mike Kelly warns of risks of juggling NBA talent in NBL". townsvillebulletin. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  16. ^ Butterworth, Liam (3 December 2014). "Townsville Crocodiles assistant coach Mike Kelly says frustration over Steve Markovic's injury is enhanced by losses". townsvillebulletin. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  17. ^ a b Gerrans, Jordan (13 April 2018). "The Cairns Taipans have secured former Melbourne United assistant coach Mike Kelly". adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  18. ^ "The Cairns Taipans announce Mike Kelly as new Head Coach". nbl.com.au.
  19. ^ "Taipans' spirits soar after breaking 14-game losing streak". www.tropicnow.com.au. 4 January 2019.
  20. ^ McCallum, Jordan. "Time, fit, and unwavering support: Here's how the Cairns Taipans proved us all wrong". The Pick and Roll.
  21. ^ "NBL finals 2020: Perth Wildcats vs Cairns Taipans Game 3 score, result, Bryce Cotton". Fox Sports. 6 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Taipans score big in NBL awards". www.tropicnow.com.au. 17 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Taipans Coach of the Year signs on for two more". www.taipans.com.
  24. ^ "Statement on Mike Kelly". Taipans.com. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Perth Name Mike Kelly Associate Head Coach". NBL.com.au. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Mike Kelly to Lead the Phoenix". semphoenix.com.au. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  27. ^ "South East Melbourne Phoenix reportedly sack coach Mike Kelly after winless start to NBL season". Fox Sports. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Kelly, Phoenix part ways". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
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