Jack Kelley (ice hockey) facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 10, 1927 Medford, Massachusetts |
| Died | September 16, 2020 (aged 93) Oakland, Maine |
| Playing career | |
| 1948–1949 | US National Team |
| 1949–1952 | Boston University |
| Position(s) | Defense |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1955–1962 | Colby College |
| 1962–1972 | Boston University |
| 1972–1973 | New England Whalers |
| 1972–1975 | New England Whalers (General Manager) |
| 1975 | New England Whalers |
| 1976–1977 | Colby College |
| 1977–1981 | New England Whalers (General Manager) |
| 1982–1993 | Adirondack Red Wings (Dir. of Player Personnel) |
| 1993–2001 | Pittsburgh Penguins (President) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 303-147-12 (.669) |
| Tournaments | 5–3 (.625) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1962 ECAC Hockey Champion 1965 ECAC Hockey Champion 1967 ECAC Hockey Champion 1971 ECAC Hockey Champion 1971 NCAA National Championship 1972 ECAC Hockey Tournament Champion 1972 NCAA national championship |
|
| Awards | |
| 1962 Spencer Penrose Award 1973 Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame 1993 US Hockey Hall of Fame 2010 World Hockey Association Hall of Fame |
|
John Henry Kelley (July 10, 1927 – September 16, 2020) was a famous American ice hockey coach. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Kelley was the first general manager and head coach for the New England Whalers. This team played in the World Hockey Association (WHA).
In the 1972-73 season, he won the Howard Baldwin Trophy. This award was given to the WHA coach of the year. He also led the Whalers to win the Avco World Trophy, which was their championship. Before this, he coached at Boston University. He led the Boston University Terriers to win two NCAA hockey championships in a row. These wins happened in 1971 and 1972. During his 10 years coaching at Boston University (1962–71), his teams won 72% of their games. They also won six Beanpot Tournaments.
Kelley was born in Medford, Massachusetts. He also played college hockey at Boston University. He played in the NCAA Hockey Tournament in 1951 and 1952. When he graduated, he was the top-scoring defenseman in the school's history. After playing, he became a coach at Colby College in 1955. Later in his career, he worked in the front offices for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. His son, David E. Kelley, is a well-known television writer and producer.
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Jack Kelley's Career Highlights
Jack Kelley had a long and successful career in ice hockey. He was known for his smart coaching and leadership. His teams often achieved great success.
Playing Days
Kelley played as a defenseman for the Boston University Terriers. He was a strong player on defense. He helped his team compete in major tournaments. After college, he even played for the US National Team.
Early Coaching at Colby College
Kelley started his coaching journey at Colby College in 1955. He coached there for several years. He helped build a strong hockey program. His overall record at Colby was 92 wins, 67 losses, and 5 ties.
Success at Boston University
Kelley became the head coach at Boston University in 1962. This is where he became a legend. He coached the Terriers for 10 seasons. His teams were incredibly successful.
- Championship Wins: He led Boston University to win the NCAA national championship twice. These big wins happened in 1971 and 1972.
- ECAC Hockey Titles: His teams also won the ECAC Hockey championship four times. These were in 1962, 1965, 1967, and 1971.
- Beanpot Tournaments: The Terriers won the Beanpot Tournament six times under his coaching. This is a special tournament for Boston-area college teams.
- Winning Record: He had an amazing winning percentage of .720. This means his teams won most of their games.
Coaching in the WHA
After his college success, Kelley moved to professional hockey. He became the first general manager and head coach of the New England Whalers. The WHA was a major professional league at the time.
- Avco World Trophy: In his first season (1972-73), he led the Whalers to win the Avco World Trophy. This was the WHA's championship.
- Coach of the Year: He was also named the WHA Coach of the Year. This showed how much impact he had on the team.
Later Career in Management
After coaching, Kelley continued to work in hockey. He served as a general manager for the New England Whalers. He also worked in the front offices for other NHL teams. He was the Director of Player Personnel for the Adirondack Red Wings. Later, he became the President of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Awards and Recognition
Jack Kelley received many honors for his contributions to hockey.
- United States Hockey Hall of Fame: He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. This is a very high honor for American hockey figures.
- World Hockey Association Hall of Fame: In 2010, he was one of the first people chosen for the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame. This recognized his impact on that league.
- Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame: Boston University also honored him in 1973. He was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame.
- Spencer Penrose Award: He won the Spencer Penrose Award in 1962. This award goes to the top coach in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey.
Jack Kelley passed away on September 16, 2020, at the age of 93. He left behind a great legacy in the world of ice hockey.
