Alma Mater: St. Bonaventure
Seasons: 31 seasons.
Jim Kelly retired in May 2013 after 31 seasons at the helm of the Hendrix men's and women's swimming and diving programs. He is also a professor in the Kinesiology Department and teaches Anatomy and Kinesiology. During his tenure, Hendrix swimmers have won numerous conference and national honors; in the pool and in the classroom. Kelly has coached 80 All-Americans, as well as many conference champions and All-conference selections. He is known for his innovative approach to coaching.
His women's squad at Hendrix won the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American Team Awards for 50 consecutive semesters - every semester since the award was introduced in 1988. The men's teams won the award for 48 consecutive semesters.
Kelly was inducted in the Hendrix College Sports Hall of Honor in 2005.
Kelly is a native of Rutland, Vt. He swam for St. Bonaventure University in New York while studying for a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He went onto earn a master's degree from Springfield College in Massachusetts.
After a brief stint of teaching and coaching, Kelly served in the Air Force. His first collegiate coaching position was at Genesee Community College (Batavia, N.Y.). This was followed by a stint at State University College (Potsdam, N.Y.). There he coached his team to a conference crown and was named State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Coach of the Year. Following that experience, Kelly went to Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.).
Kelly came to Hendrix in 1982. His various experiences, as a high school, club and college coach have contributed to his creative, but scientific approach. He served on the College Swim Coaches Association (CSCA) board, and was recognized for his coaching by two national awards, specifically the CSCA-Master Coach Award. He was also recognized as the Coach of the Year in both the AIC and NSISL in 1984, 1986 and 1989. He has seen the transition of the program nationally from the NAIAto the NCAA Division III level. On the conference level the switch has been from the old Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) to the NSISL, and eventually to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). In addition, Kelly has been the Coach of the Aquakids, a USA club team, and now serves as coordinator of the team.
Kelly and his wife Robyn reside in Conway and enjoy time with their children and grandchildren.
|
Year |
Conf. |
Men's Finish |
Women's Finish |
|
1982-83 |
AIC |
3rd |
n/a |
|
1983-84 |
AIC |
3rd |
1st |
|
1984-85 |
AIC |
3rd |
1st |
|
1985-86 |
AIC |
3rd |
1st |
|
1986-87 |
AIC |
3rd |
n/a |
|
1987-88 |
AIC |
3rd |
n/a |
|
1988-89 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1989-90 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1990-91 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1991-92 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1992-93 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1993-94 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1994-95 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1995-96 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1996-97 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1997-98 |
NSISL |
n/a |
n/a |
|
1998-99 |
SCAC |
5th |
7th |
|
1999-00 |
SCAC |
6th |
5th |
|
2000-01 |
SCAC |
7th |
6th |
|
2001-02 |
SCAC |
7th |
7th |
|
2002-03 |
SCAC |
6th |
6th |
|
2003-04 |
SCAC |
7th |
5th |
|
2004-05 |
SCAC |
6th |
7th |
|
2005-06 |
SCAC |
7th |
8th |
|
2006-07 |
SCAC |
6th |
9th |
|
2007-08 |
SCAC |
7th |
9th |
|
2008-09 |
SCAC |
7th |
7th |
|
2009-10 |
SCAC |
7th |
7th |
|
2010-11 |
SCAC |
9th |
8th |
|
2011-12 |
SCAC |
8th |
7th |
|
2012-13 |
SAA |
5th |
6th |
