In his fourth year as an assistant coach with the Knights, Matt Kelly joined the Clarkson staff after spending the 2007-08 campaign on the women’s hockey coaching staff at Quinnipiac University.
Prior to that, he started his coaching career at Wayne State University in Detroit where he was the volunteer assistant coach during the 2006-2007 season.
Kelly's responsibilities included designing and implementing a comprehensive goaltending practice as well as providing one-on-one goalie specific training. He is also responsible for all aspects of video breakdown and analysis as well as maintaining academic support for the team.
"We feel fortunate to have a quality person like Matt on our staff here at Clarkson," stated Matt Desrosiers. "Although his expertise is at the goaltending position, Matt adds much more to our program. He is hard working, enthusiastic, and extremely passionate about the game of hockey. We are confident that Matt will continue to help the Clarkson Women’s Hockey program as we strive to be among the best teams in the country."
Kelly was a four-year member of the Wayne State men's hockey team as a goaltender, serving as a captain during his senior campaign in 2005-2006. That season, Kelly received College Hockey America All-Conference Second Team honors as well as winning the CHA/Easton Three Star Award and being named Wayne State's Most Valuable Player. Kelly also was named to the CHA All-Academic Team, and the 2004 CHA All-Tournament Team. Kelly holds the Wayne State single-season marks for goals against average (2.54) and save percentage (.922). He played three years of Junior A hockey in the United States Hockey League prior to his collegiate career, splitting time between the Cedar Rapids Roughriders (1999-2000 and 2000-01) and the Topeka Scarecrows (2001-02).
A native of Hull, Massachusetts, Kelly graduated from Wayne State in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in media arts and studies. Kelly and his wife, Brooke, make their home in the Potsdam area with their young son, Colton.
