| Pat Kelsey |
|
|
Full Name: Patrick Powers Kelsey
Birth Date: May 15, 1975
Birth Place: Cincinnati, Ohio
Wife: Lisa
Daughter: Ruthie (born Aug. 13, 2007)
College: Xavier University (1998)
Degree: Business Administration - Marketing
High School: Cincinnati Elder High School
Childhood Idol: Pete Rose
Playing Career
1995-98 -- Xavier University
1993-94 -- University of Wyoming
Coaching History
2005-Current -- Assistant Coach, Wake Forest
2002-04 -- Director of Basketball Operations, Wake Forest
1998-2001 -- Assistant Coach, Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio
One of the top young assistant coaches in college basketball, Pat Kelsey will begin his eighth season on the Wake Forest staff in 2008-09.
Kelsey, who is in his fifth year as a Demon Deacon assistant coach, has seen the program reach new heights. Since his arrival in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest has averaged more than 20 wins per season, earned three postseason berths, produced the school's first-ever No. 1 national ranking and won an ACC regular season championship.
In his role, Kelsey is involved in several facets of the Demon Deacon basketball program. He is a tireless recruiter, instrumental in helping Wake Forest sign several recruiting classes that have been ranked among the best in the nation. The Deacons' 2008 class was ranked No. 3 in the country by Rivals.com.
Kelsey has also been recognized as an excellent teacher and tactician in terms of player development, scouting and game preparation.
He works primarily with the Deacon big men and has played a key role in the development of center Chas McFarland. Under Kelsey's tutelage, McFarland had a breakout season in 2007-08. The 7-0 center led the ACC in per-game scoring improvement, going from 0.7 points per game as a freshman to 8.4 as a sophomore.
Kelsey, a former Division I point guard, is also an innovative marketer. He played a major role in helping create the lively pre-game festivities at all home games, working with former assistant coach Chris Mack and the Wake Forest marketing office to produce the "Tie-Dye Nation" campaign that is now a staple in Wake Forest's marketing efforts.
Kelsey first came to Wake Forest in the spring of 2001, joining Skip Prosser's first Deacon staff as Director of Basketball Operations. He was then promoted to Assistant Coach prior to the 2004-05 season.
He was first associated with Prosser as a standout performer in the Xavier backcourt for three seasons (1996 to 1998), leading the Musketeers to two NCAA Tournament appearances. The former guard served as team co-captain during the 1997-98 season and was voted the team's Most Inspirational Player in 1996 and 1998.
Kelsey began his playing career at Wyoming in 1993-94 before transferring to Xavier. In between his playing days and arriving at Wake Forest, Kelsey spent three years as an assistant coach under coaching great Joe Schoenfeld at powerhouse Elder High School in Cincinnati. He helped lead the Panthers to the Division I state championship game.
Kelsey, a native of Cincinnati and a huge fan of the Reds and Bengals, is a 1998 graduate of Xavier with a degree in business administration - marketing.
Kelsey and wife, Lisa, are the parents of one-year-old daughter, Ruthie.
