In Memoriam: Lee Kelly

Gonzaga mourns the loss of longtime Rugby coach Lee Kelly, who passed away this week.

Coach Kelly arrived on Eye Street as an assistant coach in the spring of 2000, at a time when Gonzaga Rugby had a roster of 30. Over the next 20 years, he helped transform a small spring sport into a remarkably close-knit community that is now a thriving hallmark of Gonzaga's athletic department.

In 2008, Coach Kelly was inducted into Gonzaga's Athletic Hall of Fame. Printed below is the citation that was read in his honor on that occasion:

While walking through the student union in the fall of 1970, Lee Kelly saw a display for the University of Maryland rugby team. It looked like fun, and so began a passion for a sport that has endured for thirty-eight years as player, coach and administrator. That passion grew as Lee, player/coach, helped establish several men's and youth teams such as the Maryland Old Boys, now known as the Maryland Exiles, and the Maryland Old Men, an over-thirty-five team.

In 1997, Lee began coaching in an Under 15 rugby league, so he could coach his sons Brendan and Connor. As Lee’s passion for rugby continued to grow, so did the numbers of rugby players throughout the Washington Metropolitan area. Among the many beneficiaries of Lee’s leadership and devotion are the players and families of the Gonzaga Rugby Program.

As had happened under Lee’s leadership as High School Director of the Potomac Rugby Union -- which saw the organization expand from six to thirty teams under his guidance -- Gonzaga Rugby began to swiftly grow after he became a part of the Eagle family in 2000.

Yes, rugby on Eye Street looked like fun. And young Eagles, too, were developing a passion for the game. Good things began happening. The spring international rugby tours for the boys began – with the initial years including trips to Ireland, England, Wales, France, Spain, the Cayman Islands, Argentina and Uruguay.

Buchanan Field became the site of numerous rugby camps, which included instruction from national team coaches.

And, not surprisingly the rugby jerseys being worn around campus increased, too. What began as a team of thirty Gonzaga student playing rugby in 2000, just nine seasons later included 150 students. Not surprisingly, such organization and leadership translates into uncommon success.

From 2000 to 2009, Gonzaga had won nine consecutive Potomac Rugby Union High School championships, four Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union championships, and the inaugural Metro Area Varsity Rugby Conference championship in 2008. Gonzaga teams had also been to the high school national championships five times. And there had been several more championships won in the “B” side and Freshman/Sophomore Divisions.

The number of individual awards won by Gonzaga rugby players was similarly impressive. Over 120 players had been asked to represent the PRU select side or have been selected to the All-Met team. More than 35 Gonzaga players had been invited to try out for the USA National Team and Gonzaga players had made the team nine times. Three members of Gonzaga’s 2009 squad were selected for the final tryout for the National Team. The list goes on.

Coach Kelly is married to Fran and they have three children: Jamie, Brendan (Gonzaga Class of 2002), and Connor (Gonzaga Class of 2006); and two grandchildren, Tori and Chase.

It is therefore, with great gratitude and honor, that the Gonzaga Alumni Association recognized Coach Lee Kelly as a passionate leader, organizer, coach and promoter of the game of rugby on Eye Street and beyond, and inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame.

This past year, as part of Gonzaga's Bicentennial celebration, a group of Gonzaga Rugby players, parents, and friends came together to create the Lee Kelly Endowed Scholarship Fund at Gonzaga. The newly created fund will provide financial assistance to deserving students while emphasizing the values of teamwork and commitment to excellence. To make a gift to the fund in Coach Kelly's name, please click here and leave the fund name in the comment box. Gonzaga is grateful for your generosity.

A funeral Mass will be held for Coach Kelly on Wednesday, September 7 at 6 PM at St. Aloysius Church.

As we reflect on Coach Kelly's life and impact, we join all those who are mourning his loss. May God grant him eternal rest.