Jack Kelley

John Henry Kelley (July 10, 1927 – September 16, 2020The Passing of Legendary Hockey Coach Jack Kelley) was an American ice hockey coach and a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Kelley was the first general manager and head coach of the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA). During the 1972-73 season, he won the Howard Baldwin Trophy as the WHA coach of the year, and also led the Whalers to the Avco World Trophy. He previously served as head coach at Boston University, leading the Terriers to back-to-back NCAA hockey championships in 1971 and 1972. In his 10 year coaching career at Boston U (1962–71), he compiled a .720 winning percentage and won six Beanpot Tournaments.
Kelley, who was born in Medford, Massachusetts, also played his college hockey at Boston U, participating in the NCAA Hockey Tournament in 1951 and 1952. At the time of his graduation, he was the school's all time leading scorer among defensemen. He then took over as coach at Colby College in 1955. After leaving the Whalers, he later worked in the front offices of the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. His son is writer and producer, David E. Kelley.
==Honors==
In 2010, he was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in the coaching category.
==Head Coaching Record==
===College===
===WHA===
Team 	Year 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Post season
Team 	Year 	G 	W 	L 	T 	Pts 	Division rank 	Result
New England Whalers	1972–73 	78 	46 	10 	2 	94 	1st in East 	Won Avco Cup
New England Whalers	1974–75 	5 	3 	2 	0 	(91) 	1st in East 	Lost in Quarterfinals
New England Whalers	1975–76 	33 	14 	16 	3 	(73) 	3rd in East 	(Resigned)
WHA Total 	WHA Total	116 	63 	48 	5 	 	 	
==References==
==External Links==
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Category:1927 births
Category:2020 deaths
Category:American ice hockey coaches
Category:Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey coaches
Category:Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey players
Category:Colby Mules men's ice hockey coaches
Category:Detroit Red Wings personnel
Category:Hartford Whalers executives
Category:Ice hockey people from Massachusetts
Category:New England Whalers coaches
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins personnel
Category:United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductees