John Kelley (ice hockey)

John "Snooks" Kelley (July 11, 1907 – April 10, 1986) was an American ice hockey coach. Kelley was coach of the Boston College Eagles ice hockey team for 36 years. Kelley won the 1949 NCAA ice hockey title and was the first coach to win 500 games in the NCAA. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974

John Kelley
Biographical details
Born(1907-07-11)July 11, 1907
Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
DiedApril 10, 1986(1986-04-10) (aged 78)
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1933-1942Boston College
1946-1972Boston College
Head coaching record
Overall501–247–15 (.666)
Tournaments4–13 (.235)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1949 NCAA National championship
8 Beanpot Titles
8 New England Championships
ECAC playoff title
Awards
Lester Patrick Trophy, 1972
Spencer Penrose Award, 1959, 1972
Records
First to coach to reach 500 wins

Career

Kelley arrived at Boston College in 1925 after attending Boston College High School. He was a two sport athlete for the Eagles, playing both baseball and ice hockey.[1] Kelley finished his collegiate playing career following his graduation in 1930. Kelley’s graduation came just after hockey was removed from as a varsity sport due to the Great Depression.[2]

On January 8, 1933 Kelley agreed to coach a group of BC students while he was completing his teaching at Cambridge Latin. The position offered no pay, and forced him to give up playing with the Boston Hockey Club,[2] but it was the beginning of a career that would last until 1972.[3] Kelley’s coaching career was put on hold with the outbreak of World War II. In 1942 Kelley joined the United States Navy and remained enlisted until 1946, before returning to coaching.[1]

Just three years after serving with the Navy Kelley lead his Boston College team over Dartmouth and win the NCAA National Championship.[2] It would be the first championship won by an Eastern school.[2] The 1949 National Championship was the only one of his career, however he would lead the Eagles back to the title game in 1965. Boston College lost the championship game to Michigan Tech 8-2.[1]

On December 26, 1952 Boston’s famous Beanpot Tournament was established. Kelley enjoyed great success in the tournament winning 5 of the first 10. Some have pointed to his success in the Beanpot leading to Kelley gaining his stature as the face of BC hockey.[3] Kelley coached BC to eight Beanpot titles in thirteen years, including three in a row from 1963-65. [4]

In addition to the National Championship and his Beanpot wins Kelley also racked up an impressive amount of accolades including: eight New England Championships, nine appearances in the ECAC Division I playoffs, one ECAC playoff title and nine NCAA Tournament appearances.[2] Kelley won the Spencer Penrose Award as College Hockey's Coach of the Year in 1959 and 1972.[5] His success at BC earned him the nickname "Dean of American College Hockey Coaches".[1]

In a February 23, 1972 game against rival Boston University Kelley earned his 500th win making him the first NCAA Division-I men's hockey coach to reach that mark. For his career Kelley posted a record of 501-243-15 in his 36-year career.[1] His 501 wins would remain a school record until current coach Jerry York, who played for Kelley from 1963 to 1967, passed him in 2014. Kelley had spent most 41 of the first 47 years of his adult life on the Heights as either a player or coach.

In 1970 Kelley was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame.[6] Two years later, in 1972, Kelley received the Lester Patrick Trophy[4] for his contribution to hockey in the United States, not only for his accomplishments on the ice but also because he steadfastly refused to recruit players from Canada. Kelley felt recruiting Canadians would deprive Americans of a chance to develop their hockey potential.[2] In 1974 Kelley be inducted in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.[4]

On April 10, 1986 following a long bout with an illness John "Snooks" Kelley died, he was 78 years old.[7]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Boston College Eagles (Division I Independent) (1932–1942)
1932-33 Boston College 3-2-1
1933-34 Boston College 2-6-1
1934-35 Boston College 7-3-0
1935-36 Boston College 7-4-1
1936-37 Boston College 8-4-1
1937-38 Boston College 9-6-0
1938-39 Boston College 9-7-0
1939-40 Boston College 12-5-1
1940-41 Boston College 13-1-0
1941-42 Boston College 12-2-0
Boston College: 82-40-5
Boston College Eagles (Division I Independent) (1946–1961)
1946-47 Boston College 15-3-1
1947-48 Boston College 14-5-0NCAA Semifinal
1948-49 Boston College 21-1-0NCAA National Champion
1949-50 Boston College 14-5-0NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1950-51 Boston College 12-8-0
1951-52 Boston College 17-3-0
1952-53 Boston College 11-4-1
1953-54 Boston College 17-4-0NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1954-55 Boston College 13-8-0
1955-56 Boston College 14-8-0NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1956-57 Boston College 14-7-1
1957-58 Boston College 9-12-2
1958-59 Boston College 20-8-0NCAA Consolation Game (Win)
1959-60 Boston College 15-9-1
1960-61 Boston College 19-5-1
Boston College: 225-90-7
Boston College Eagles (ECAC Hockey) (1961–1972)
1961-62 Boston College 15-13-113-11-012thECAC Quarterfinals
1962-63 Boston College 22-9-019-5-03rdNCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1963-64 Boston College 18-9-116-7-15thECAC Quarterfinals
1964-65 Boston College 24-7-015-5-02ndNCAA Runner-Up
1965-66 Boston College 16-12-012-10-06thECAC Quarterfinals
1966-67 Boston College 20-8-014-6-03rdECAC Third Place Game (Win)
1967-68 Boston College 19-11-114-8-17thNCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1968-69 Boston College 19-7-016-5-02ndECAC Quarterfinals
1969-70 Boston College 16-10-014-7-06thECAC Quarterfinals
1970-71 Boston College 11-15-09-12-010th
1971-72 Boston College 14-16-010-11-010th
Boston College: 194-117-3152-87-2
Total:501-247-15

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Source:[8]

See also

References
  1. Brian @ BCI (2009-02-09). "Mt. Rushmore: John "Snooks" Kelley". B. C. interruption.com. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  2. "U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame - John "Snooks" Kelley". USA.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  3. Chris Fernando (2003-02-03). "The pride of Beantown Beanpot provides a unique taste of Boston". BC Heights.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  4. "Beanpot Hockey tournament Hall of Fame - John "Snooks" Kelley". Beanpot Hockey.com. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  5. "Jack Parker of Boston University is AHCA Men's Division I Coach of the Year". AHCA Hockey.com. 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  6. "John Kelley profile". BC Eagles.CSTV.com. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  7. "Obituaries - John A. Kelley". New York Times.com. Associated Press. April 11, 1986. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  8. "2012-13 Boston College Eagles Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). Boston College Eagles. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Harry Cleverly
Cooney Weiland		 Spencer Penrose Award
1958–59
1971–72		 Succeeded by
Jack Riley
Len Ceglarski
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