Kevin Kelley, HS coach who ‘never punts’, reportedly hired to lead FCS program
By Keith Farner
Published:
One of the most unconventional coaches at any level of football just got a promotion.
Arkansas high school coach Kevin Kelley, who is known widely as the “coach who never punts,” has agreed to become the new head coach at Presbyterian College, an FCS program in the Big South Conference in Clinton, S.C., Football Scoop reported.
Kelley has reportedly landed speaking gigs at MIT’s Sloan Sports Conference and became a confidant of New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
“Coach Kelley is probably the top high school coach in the country,” Belichick said in December. “I’ve followed him. He’s a little unconventional, but he’s had great success, and he’s had a lot of players come through there. I have great respect for coach Kelley and the program he runs, and some of the creative things that he does.”
Kelley’s recent coaching history includes nine state titles and being named the USA Today High School Coach of the Year in 2016.
Kelley has said that he uses an onside kick every time unless his team is up by 21 points.
Kelley has also said in interviews he wouldn’t necessarily bring his no-punt/no-kickoff strategy to the college game and that he adopted the strategies that made him a national name because they presented a strategic advantage at the high school level.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
