Learn from the best – isi school of wrestling – Head Coach Jerry Kelly
Jerry Kelly's name is synonymous with Illinois wrestling. As a high school wrestler, Kelly was a two-time class AA state champion (112-'77, 119-'78) from (Oak Lawn) Richards and also earned a third place finish. In 1976 he was the USA Senior Greco-Roman National Champion and was a five time Junior National All-American. In 1978 Kelly was the USA Junior National Freestyle Champion. Following an impressive prep career, Kelly continued his wrestling career at NCAA Division I powerhouse Oklahoma State University. In 1980, he was the national runner-up and won the Most Falls Trophy at the NCAA Division I tournament. He followed that performance with a third place finish in the national tournament in 1981. From 1983-1987 Jerry wrestled for the Cyclone wrestling club while serving as an assistant coach at Iowa State University. Kelly broke into coaching at the high school level in 1990, serving as assistant coach at Monticello High School until 1999. In 1999, he took over as head wrestling coach at Monticello where he coached until 2003. He has served as a Junior National Assistant coach since 1990. During his coaching career, Kelly has been nominated for Illinois Assistant Coach of the Year twice, winning the award in 1996. In 1998, Kelly was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame. From 2003 to 2007 he took over as the head wrestling coach at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. Kelly's brother Bill was an NCAA champion for Iowa State and his daughter, Mary, has been a member of the USA Women's World Team. | 