Coach Jude Kelly’s memory lives on with dozens of former athletes he has made an impact on. The former high school and college football coach’s career spanned over four decades and 4 schools across Connecticut.
Kelly had finally retired in 2019, to later come out of retirement and go on to lead the football team at Weaver High School in Hartford.
A former player of Kelly, now the head football coach at Avon Old Farms School, Jon Wholly, says in a statement about Kelly, “He treated everyone fairly and kindly, and he really was a role model of how it is to live your life.”
Another former player, Matt Proffitt, had the opportunity to coach with Kelly in 2004. Remembering the late coach’s impact on the team as a player and a co-worker, Proffitt stated “The wins, though impressive, are just really a small part of what we will all remember Jude for”.
East Catholic High School in Manchester has named the hill where he would hold team training on campus after the late football coach as a tribute to his leadership.
Sources:
Smith, K. (2026, February 16). A Beloved Connecticut High School Coach Passed Away Last Weekend & Former Players Reminisce on His Legacy. https://www.wtnh.com. https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/connecticut-football-community-remembers-beloved-coach-jude-kelly/
Carpenter , B. (n.d.). Influential, venerable CT high school football coach Jude Kelly dies at 73 . https://www.ctinsider.com. https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/football/article/jude-kelly-coach-st-paul-southington-east-catholic-21356320.php