Kevin Kelley (American football)

Kevin Kelley is an American football coach known for his unorthodox and statistically-driven coaching philosophies, most notably his consistent onside kick strategy.

Kelley gained notoriety during his tenure as head football coach at Pulaski Academy, a private high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, from 2003 to 2020. His teams won multiple state championships employing an aggressive, high-risk, high-reward style of play. This style primarily revolved around almost always attempting an onside kick after scoring, regardless of the score or game situation, and frequently going for it on fourth down.

Kelley's decisions were driven by his belief in mathematical probabilities and the notion that consistently winning possession of the ball, even at the risk of giving up short field position, maximized the team's chances of scoring more points than the opposition over the course of a game. He meticulously studied football statistics and developed his strategies based on his findings.

His approach attracted considerable attention, both positive and negative, from the football community. Some lauded his innovative thinking and willingness to challenge conventional coaching wisdom, while others criticized his perceived disregard for traditional game management principles.

Following his time at Pulaski Academy, Kelley was hired as the head football coach at Presbyterian College, a Division I FCS program, in 2021. He continued to implement his onside kick strategy, but faced challenges adapting his high-risk style to the collegiate level. He was relieved of his duties after two seasons.