New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Still in the game
Shelton native Kelly joining UConn as grad assistant
When Rich Kelly decided to move on after an injury-aborted stint playing professionally in Prague last fall, it appeared his playing career was over. Not entirely.
Kelly, the Shelton product who played three seasons at Quinnipiac, followed by a year apiece at Boston College and
UMass, was recently hired as a graduate assistant for the UConn men’s basketball team. He begins on Tuesday.
Armed with an MBA from Boston College, Kelly will help with administrative and operational duties. But he’ll also be able to be on the floor, working out players throughout the summer and, yes, playing in scrimmages.
“To me, this is like the best of both worlds,” Kelly said. “I get to play against elite competition all the time, and there’s no repercussions. I’m not gonna get taken out if I turn the ball over. I get to take a step-back 3 next play.”
In Dan Hurley’s practices … don’t be so sure of that, Rich.
“I’m excited,” he continued. “I still love playing. So, I’m excited to play at a really high level, against some really good players.”
Obviously, Kelly’s main function will be to help the team in as many ways as possible, while learning some coaching chops along the way from a national-championship staff. His goal is to be a coach … at some point.
“If you asked me a year ago what my goal was, I’d say to be a pro player for 10 years,” Kelly said. “But, as life continues to change, so do we. But that’s the goal right now.”
Kelly played four seasons at Fairfield Prep before doing a postgraduate year at Cheshire Academy. He committed to play for Tom Moore at Quinnipiac, but later that spring, Moore was fired after 10 seasons at the Bobcats’ helm.