The Sheridan School District named Kevin Kelley as its new head coach for the Yellowjacket football program. The announcement followed approval by Sheridan’s Board of Education at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, December 11.
Kelley is best known as the former head coach of the Pulaski Academy Bruins, where he compiled a 216-29-1 record from 2003-2020. During that span, Pulaski Academy won nine state titles including six of seven years from 2014-2020. His teams appeared in the state semifinals 15 times and the state championship game 12 times. In 2016, Kelley was named the national High School Coach of the Year by USA Today. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
“We are very excited to hire someone with Coach Kelley’s incredible record of success,” said Dr. Karla Neathery, superintendent of the Sheridan School District. “Coach Kelley’s unique approach and vast knowledge of the game have led to many great achievements. This is certainly a home-run hire, and we look forward to a bright future for the Yellowjacket football program under Coach Kelley’s leadership.”
Kelley believes in data-driven football coaching decisions. His teams are known for their high-octane offenses that almost never punt, instead choosing to go for fourth-down conversions. His teams punted 8 times in 18 years. His teams regularly attempt on-side kicks and two-point conversions after touchdowns. According to a 2021 article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Kelley’s teams posted the 12 highest single-season yardage totals in Arkansas history. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Kelley’s teams scored on 90%, 89% and 88% of their possessions, respectively.
Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, has mentioned his respect for Kelley and in 2020 said that he is “… probably the top high school coach in the country.”
Kelley spent the 2021 season as head coach of Presbyterian College. In his debut game, his team scored 84 points and set a Division I record with 12 touchdown passes. Kelley returned to Arkansas and has been in private business the past two years.
Kelley graduated from Henderson State University in 1992, and he is married to Dana. They have a daughter, Kara; son, Zack; and daughter-in-law, Allyson; along with a new baby granddaughter.