Brad Kelly returns to Newport as defensive backs coach for 2024. During his first season coaching defense in 2023, Kelly mentored a secondary that led the country in touchdown-interception ratio. Additionally, the Salve defense ranked in the top ten in the country in points allowed per game.
During his five years as a wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator at Portsmouth High School (Portsmouth, R.I.), Kelly helped the Patriots reach two state championship games with an additional three appearances in the state semifinals.
Kelly was the wide receivers coach at Assumption University during the 2021 season, helping the Greyhounds reach a 5-3 conference record.
Kelly previously worked as the wide receivers and tight ends coach at Salve Regina in 2018. Kelly helped the Seahawks win a share of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship, going 6-1 in conference play. During that season, he mentored All-CCC honorees Brendan Nunes and Ryan Lawton.
Kelly played football at Salve Regina (2012-2015) where he earned New England Football Conference Academic All-Conference honors in 2015. He appeared in 30 games over four seasons and was chosen to the NEFC Weekly Honor Roll in week seven of 2013.
A native of Portsmouth, Rhode Island and current resident of Newport, Kelly graduated from Salve Regina in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice.
