University of North Texas Athletics

Ken Kelley was a four-year letterwinner from 1952 to 1955. In 1954 & 1955 he was the high-point meet performer at the Border Olympics, West Texas Relays, ACC Meet, TCU Meet, South Western Relays and the AAU Meet.

At the 1955 West Texas Relays he tied the meet record in the high hurdles and set a new meet record in the broad jump. At the 1955 Texas Relays, he won first place in the high jump, establishing a new school record at 6-foot-6. Kelly also set a new school record in the high hurdles in 1955. He was nationally recognized by the NAIA as a leader in several categories, including the high hurdles with a time of 14.3 seconds, the high jump with a height of 6-foot-6 and in the broad jump at 23-feet-8.

He graduated in 1955 and followed his collegiate career by competing in track & field for the U.S. Army. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Kelley taught at Thomas Jefferson high school in San Antonio before later becoming the track coach at Texas City High School. As a track coach at both schools, Kelley developed several district regional and state qualifiers. He was nominated by the U.S. Olympic committee as one of the coaches for the 1972 Olympic Teams.