Curtis Kelly

Curtis Kelly

Kelly joined UTRGV as a special assistant to the head coach during the summer of 2023.

He was previously a graduate student manager at Kansas State from 2021-23. This past season, the Wildcats went 26-10 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Kelly worked as a video coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the Wildcats this past season. In addition, Kelly assisted with player holistic development and mentorship, student-athlete evaluations, travel arrangements, and select administrative duties. Kelly earned his Master’s in Academic Advising from Kansas State this past spring.

Previously, Kelly played eight seasons of professional basketball in six countries – Israel, Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, France, and The Philippines – before retiring in August 2021. He averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 245 games. Kelly earned 2012 Balkan League Defensive Player of the Year honors and was an All-Balkan League Second Team selection after averaging 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for Israeli National League Champion Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Kelly played collegiately for three seasons at Kansas State from 2008-11. He ended his time at Kansas State averaging 11.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He ranks fifth in both career field goal percentage (55.1%) and blocked shots (107) in Kansas State history. In 2009-10, Kelly helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight. In his final season at Kansas State, Kelly helped guide the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament round of 32 while averaging 10.5 points on 53.2% shooting with 5.5 rebounds per game. Kelly earned a bachelor’s in social science from Kansas State in 2011.