View source for Thomas Kelley (coach)

{{Short description|American football player and sports coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Thomas Kelley
| image = Thomas Kelley, collegiate coach.png
| alt = 
| caption = Kelly, {{Circa|1908}}
| birth_date = {{Circa|1888}}
| birth_place = [[Du Quoin, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| alma_mater = 
| player_sport1 = Football
| player_years2 = 1906, 1908–1909
| player_team2 = [[Chicago Maroons football|Chicago]]
| player_positions = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Tackle]]
| coach_sport1 = Football
| coach_years2 = 1911–1913
| coach_team2 = [[Muhlenberg Mules football|Muhlenberg]]
| coach_years3 = 1914
| coach_team3 = [[Missouri S&T Miners football|Missouri Mines]]
| coach_years4 = 1915–1917
| coach_team4 = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]
| coach_years5 = 1919
| coach_team5 = [[Missouri Tigers football|Missouri]] (assistant)
| coach_years6 = 1920–1921
| coach_team6 = [[Idaho Vandals football|Idaho]]
| coach_years7 = 1922
| coach_team7 = Missouri
| coach_sport8 = Basketball
| coach_years9 = 1912–1914
| coach_team9 = [[Muhlenberg Mules|Muhlenberg]]
| coach_years10 = 1916–1917
| coach_team10 = [[Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball|Alabama]]
| admin_years1 = 1915
| admin_team1 = [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Alabama]]
| admin_years2 = 1920–1922
| admin_team2 = [[Idaho Vandals|Idaho]]
| overall_record = 56–24–3 (football)<br>18–23 (basketball)
| bowl_record = 
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 
| awards = 
| coaching_records = 
{{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| rank = 
| battles = [[World War I]]
| unit = 
| serviceyears = 1917–1918
| awards = 
}}
}}
'''Thomas Kelley''' (born c. 1888) was an American [[college football]] player and coach, [[college basketball]] coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at [[Muhlenberg College]] from 1911t o 1913, the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy—now known as the [[Missouri University of Science and Technology]]—in 1914, the [[University of Alabama]] from 1915 to 1917, the [[University of Idaho]] from 1920 to 1921, and the [[University of Missouri]] in 1922, compiling a career college football head coaching coaching record of {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|56|24|3|record=y}}.}} Kelley was also the head basketball coach at Muhlenberg from 1912 to 1914 and Alabama for the 1916–17 season, tallying a career college basketball record of {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|18|23|record=y}}.}} In addition, he served as the [[athletic director]] at Alabama in 1915 and Idaho from 1920 to 1922.

==Playing career==
Kelley played [[college football]] at the [[University of Chicago]] as a [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|tackle]] for the [[Chicago Maroons football|Maroons]] under head coach [[Amos Alonzo Stagg]].<ref name=sdcmiz>{{cite news |title=Kelley quits as Idaho coach; will go to U. of Missouri |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pcVXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6433%2C1312096 |newspaper= Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |date=June 8, 1922 |page=24}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
In [[1915 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1915 at Alabama]], Kelley coached only the first half of season (4–0) before he came down with [[typhoid fever]]. [[Athletic director]] [[B. L. Noojin]] and former Alabama [[quarterback]] [[Farley Moody]] took over the head coaching duties for the remaining four games of the season.<ref>Groom 2000, p. 26.</ref> The 2–2 mark achieved in Kelly's absence is still credited to his record at Alabama {{nowrap|of {{winning percentage|17|7|1|record=y}}.}}

Kelley served in the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] in [[World War I]] and returned to coaching as an assistant at Missouri in 1919.<ref name=ydvmiz>{{cite news |title=Kelly to coach Missouri squad |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Gc1JAAAAIBAJ&pg=1527,6087925|newspaper= Youngstown Vindicator |location=(Ohio)|date=June 28, 1922 |page=8}}</ref> He moved west in March [[1920 Idaho Vandals football team|1920]] and accepted the dual position of athletic director and head football coach at [[1920 Idaho Vandals football team|Idaho]];<ref name=newcoui>{{cite news |url=https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/utils/getfile/collection/argonaut/id/1260/filename/ARG-1920-03-02.pdf?_ga=2.63175279.1313022302.1602786233-2084800458.1597247049 |work=University Argonaut |location=(Moscow, Idaho) |agency=(University of Idaho) |title=Thomas Kelley is new coach |date=March 2, 1920 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=brfic>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LeJVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5770%2C6068961 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Big reception for Idaho coach |date=May 7, 1920 |page=17}}</ref><ref name=wldappl>{{cite news |url=https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/utils/getfile/collection/argonaut/id/1267/filename/ARG-1920-05-11.pdf?_ga=2.134298929.1313022302.1602786233-2084800458.1597247049 |work=University Argonaut |location=(Moscow, Idaho) |agency=(University of Idaho) |title=Wild applause greets Kelley |date=May 11, 1920 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=gom20fb>{{cite web |url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1922/114 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains 1922, University of Idaho yearbook |title=Football: 1920 season |date=April 1921 |page=108}}</ref> under his leadership the [[Idaho Vandals|Vandals]] were admitted to the [[Pacific Coast Conference]] {{nowrap|in 1922.<ref name=confthndl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cwpWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6138%2C8722435 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Conference to handle east-west games in future; Idaho admitted |date=December 11, 1921 |page=1, sports}}</ref><ref name=srmiz>{{cite news |title=Kelley quits as coach of Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lPBVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4203%2C5373555|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|date=June 9, 1922 |page=14}}</ref>}} In addition to his duties at the university, he was also the state's [[boxing]] commissioner.<ref name=labst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uMdXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6174%2C5587664 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Kelley looks at battle site |date=June 9, 1921 |page=20}}</ref> After two years in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]],<ref name=tkinewc>{{cite news |url=https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/utils/getfile/collection/argonaut/id/1500/filename/ARG-1922-06-07.pdf?_ga=2.135487089.1313022302.1602786233-2084800458.1597247049 |work=University Argonaut |location=(Moscow, Idaho) |agency=(University of Idaho) |title=Thomas Kelley is new coach |date=March 2, 1920 |page=1}}</ref> Kelley accepted the position of head football coach at Missouri in June 1922 at a salary of [[United States dollar|$]]4,500 per year,<ref name=sdcmiz/> but resigned prior to the completion of his first season.<ref name=csmmiz>{{cite news |title=Missouri coach has resigned position |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/299719342.html?dids=299719342:299719342&FMT=ABS& |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131151801/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/299719342.html?dids=299719342:299719342&FMT=ABS& |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |date=November 16, 1922 |page=12 |access-date=April 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name=tkresmc>{{cite news |url=https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/utils/getfile/collection/argonaut/id/1527/filename/ARG-1922-11-22.pdf?_ga=2.134435377.1313022302.1602786233-2084800458.1597247049|work=University Argonaut |location=(Moscow, Idaho) |agency=(University of Idaho) |title=Tom Kelley resigns as Missouri coach |date=November 22, 1922 |page=4}}</ref>

Kelley also coached [[college basketball]] for three seasons, two at [[Muhlenberg College]] (1912–14) and one at [[Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball|Alabama]] {{nowrap|(1916–17),}} with an overall record of {{nowrap|18–23.}}

==Head coaching record==
===Football===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Muhlenberg Mules football|Muhlenberg Mules]]
 | conf      = Independent
 | startyear = 1911
 | endyear   = 1913
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1911 college football season|1911]]
 | name         = Muhlenberg
 | overall      = 5–4
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1912 college football season|1912]]
 | name         = Muhlenberg
 | overall      = 6–3
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1913 college football season|1913]]
 | name         = Muhlenberg
 | overall      = 6–2–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Muhlenberg
 | overall    = 17–9–1
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Missouri S&T Miners football|Missouri Mines Miners]]
 | conf      = Independent
 | startyear = 1914
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1914 college football season|1914]]
 | name         = Missouri Mines
 | overall      = 9–0
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Missouri Mines
 | overall    = 9–0
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]]
 | conf      = [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association]]
 | startyear = 1915
 | endyear   = 1917
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1915 college football season|1915]]
 | name         = [[1915 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]
 | overall      = 6–2
 | conference   = 5–0
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1916 college football season|1916]]
 | name         = [[1916 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]
 | overall      = 6–3
 | conference   = 4–3
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1917 college football season|1917]]
 | name         = [[1917 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]
 | overall      = 5–2–1
 | conference   = 3–1–1
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Alabama
 | overall    = 17–7–1
 | confrecord = 11–4–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Idaho Vandals football|Idaho Vandals]]
 | conf      = Independent
 | startyear = 1920
 | endyear   = 1921
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1920 college football season|1920]]
 | name         = [[1920 Idaho Vandals football team|Idaho]]
 | overall      = 4–2
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1921 college football season|1921]]
 | name         = [[1921 Idaho Vandals football team|Idaho]]
 | overall      = 4–3–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Idaho
 | overall    = 8–5–1
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Missouri Tigers football|Missouri Tigers]]
 | conf      = [[Big Eight Conference|Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association]]
 | startyear = 1922
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1922 college football season|1922]]
 | name         = [[1922 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri]]
 | overall      = 5–3
 | conference   = 4–3
 | confstanding = 4th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Missouri
 | overall    = 5–3
 | confrecord = 4–3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 56–24–3
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* [[Winston Groom|Groom, Winston]]. ''The Crimson Tide – An Illustrated History''. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 2000. {{ISBN|0-8173-1051-7}}-.

{{navboxes|list=
{{Muhlenberg Mules football coach navbox}}
{{Missouri S&T Miners football coach navbox}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide athletic director navbox}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide football coach navbox}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Idaho Vandals athletic director navbox}}
{{Idaho Vandals football coach navbox}}
{{Missouri Tigers football coach navbox}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelley, Thomas}}
[[Category:1880s births]]
[[Category:Year of death missing]]
[[Category:American football tackles]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide athletic directors]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Chicago Maroons football players]]
[[Category:Idaho Vandals athletic directors]]
[[Category:Idaho Vandals football coaches]]
[[Category:Missouri Tigers football coaches]]
[[Category:Missouri S&T Miners football coaches]]
[[Category:Muhlenberg Mules football coaches]]
[[Category:Muhlenberg Mules men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]