Scout Bio
Matt Kelly joined the Friars in 2018-19 for his inaugural season at the helm. He led the team to a 24-11-2 record, helping the Friars to tie the program-high for wins in a season. Kelly led Providence to the Hockey East Semifinals for the first time since 2013 and coached three Friars to Hockey East honors at the conclusion of the season.
In 2021-22, Kelly led the Friars to the Hockey East Quarterfinals as a No. 7 seed with a 16-14-6 overall record. He coached Sandra Abstreiter to Hockey East All-Star Second Team.
In 2020-21, Kelly led the team to their first NCAA Appearance since 2012. The team also made their first appearance in the Hockey East Championship since 2005. Finishing out the season with a 12-8-1 overall record as the No. 3 seed in the Hockey East, the Friars also spent 14-consecutive weeks in the national rankings, inside the top-10. He coached four Friars to Hockey East honors as Sara Hjalmarsson was named a Hockey East All-Star Second Team selection, Lauren DeBlois and Sandra Abstreiter were both named as Hockey East All-Star Third Team selections and freshman Claire Tyo was named to the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team.
In 2019-20, Kelly led the team to the Hockey East Quarterfinals with a 18-14-4 overall record as the No. 3 seed. He coached two Friars to Hockey East honors as Whitney Dove was named a Hockey East All-Star Second Team selection and freshman Lauren DeBlois was named to the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team.
Prior to Providence, Kelly served as a Head Scout for USA Hockey and the Women's National Team. His primary responsibility was to oversee and maintain the player pools for the U-18 and U-22 squads, in addition to the Women's National Team. During his time with USA Hockey, Kelly won a total of eleven gold medals. He recently captured a gold medal with the Women's National Team at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Additionally, he helped the U18 team win four-consecutive gold medals (2015-2018). This marked the first time any U18 team won four World Championships in a row.
With USA Hockey, Kelly also was directly responsible for player selection to various USA Hockey camps and teams. Additionally, he helped foster player development and the implementation of long-term strategy.
Before USA Hockey, Kelly served as an assistant women's ice hockey coach at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y. During his tenure there, Kelly helped guide the Golden Knights to a National Championship in 2014. Clarkson qualified for the ECAC playoffs each of the six years that Kelly was on the bench and claimed three league titles during that span. The Golden Knights reached the NCAA Tournament three times (2010, 2013 and 2014). Kelly recruited and coached several high-profile players at Clarkson, including one Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winner, 10 Patty Kazmaier nominees and two ECAC players of the year.
In addition to his coaching experience at Clarkson, Kelly also spent a season coaching at Quinnipiac University (2007-08) and his alma mater, Wayne State University (2006-07).
A 2007 graduate of Wayne State, Kelly holds a bachelor's degree in media arts and studies. As a goaltender for the Warriors, Kelly earned All-College Hockey America Second Team honors in his senior season. He served as a captain and was named the CHA/Easton Three Star Award recipient in that season as well. Other2accolades from his playing career include the CHA All-Academic Team and the 2004 CHA All-Tournament Team.
Originally from Walpole, Massachusetts, he currently resides in Hope, R.I. with his wife, Brooke, and his children, Colton and Makenzie.