University of New Haven Athletics

Don Ormrod thought of Jack Kelly “another coach” during his prolific playing days at New Haven College. Kelly, a native of New Haven, came to Ormrod though a recommendation of a scouting friend, and the dividends soon paid off for the Chargers.

Kelly was a smooth ball handler who always maintained his composure, whether he was running a play in front of a packed New Haven Arena or in the final seconds of a big tournament game.

He averaged 12.7 points in limited action during his freshman season, which was also the first year of varsity basketball at New Haven. He closed out his career shooting 73 percent from the line and 47 percent from the floor.

Working with some of the greatest talent in New England basketball history, Jack Kelly was a true floor general and an unsung hero – until his 1982 Hall of Fame induction – of the early Charger basketball teams.