Drew Kelly Elevated To Associate Head Coach For UT Martin Men’s Basketball
5/1/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – Following a historic 2025-26 University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball campaign in his first season as an assistant on the Skyhawk sidelines, Drew Kelly has been promoted to associate head coach on Jeremy Shulman's staff.
Kelly joined UT Martin in April 2025 and was a key part of one of the best seasons in program history. The Skyhawks notched 22 victories – tying the 2016-17 and 2008-09 squads for the most in school history – and reached 20 wins faster than any other team in the program's NCAA Division I Era (since 1992).
Last season, UT Martin ranked in the top-10 in NCAA Division I men's basketball in scoring defense (63.2 points per game, third), three-point percentage defense (.292, fourth), field goal percentage defense (.390, sixth) and offensive rebounds per game (13.88, eighth). The Skyhawks also ranked in the top-25 nationally in steals per game (8.8, 21st), rebounds per game (39.91, 22nd) and rebound margin (+6.5, 24th) while topping the Ohio Valley Conference with 8.03 three-point field goals made per contest.
UT Martin's .727 winning percentage against nonconference opponents was the program's highest (minimum three games played) heading into OVC play and the Skyhawks followed that with 13 league wins – just one shy of the program record – en route to an OVC Championship semifinals appearance. UT Martin's 143 blocked shots last season were the most in school history while its 1,317 rebounds were just two away from the program's all-time record.
"Coach Kelly is an incredible coach with an elite basketball mind," Shulman said. "I am so extremely blessed to have him on this staff with me – he has won so many games as a head coach and brings such expertise to the program. He effects winning in so many ways – from his work at practice to his film sessions to his scouting reports to his day-to-day impact. I truly believe I have the best associate head coach in the country in Drew Kelly."
Kelly has tallied 29 years as a collegiate coach, including a 451-121 record as head coach at Harcum College (also serving as athletic director from 2005-22) and Bucks County Community College (2002-04). He also spent time as an assistant at Northern Illinois (2022-25), The College of New Jersey (2000-02) and Haverford College (1997-2000).
A Liberty Corner, NJ native, Kelly was a student assistant under head coach Steve Lappas for four seasons at Villanova before graduating in 1997. He earned a Master's degree from the College of New Jersey in 2002.
Kelly joined UT Martin in April 2025 and was a key part of one of the best seasons in program history. The Skyhawks notched 22 victories – tying the 2016-17 and 2008-09 squads for the most in school history – and reached 20 wins faster than any other team in the program's NCAA Division I Era (since 1992).
Last season, UT Martin ranked in the top-10 in NCAA Division I men's basketball in scoring defense (63.2 points per game, third), three-point percentage defense (.292, fourth), field goal percentage defense (.390, sixth) and offensive rebounds per game (13.88, eighth). The Skyhawks also ranked in the top-25 nationally in steals per game (8.8, 21st), rebounds per game (39.91, 22nd) and rebound margin (+6.5, 24th) while topping the Ohio Valley Conference with 8.03 three-point field goals made per contest.
UT Martin's .727 winning percentage against nonconference opponents was the program's highest (minimum three games played) heading into OVC play and the Skyhawks followed that with 13 league wins – just one shy of the program record – en route to an OVC Championship semifinals appearance. UT Martin's 143 blocked shots last season were the most in school history while its 1,317 rebounds were just two away from the program's all-time record.
"Coach Kelly is an incredible coach with an elite basketball mind," Shulman said. "I am so extremely blessed to have him on this staff with me – he has won so many games as a head coach and brings such expertise to the program. He effects winning in so many ways – from his work at practice to his film sessions to his scouting reports to his day-to-day impact. I truly believe I have the best associate head coach in the country in Drew Kelly."
Kelly has tallied 29 years as a collegiate coach, including a 451-121 record as head coach at Harcum College (also serving as athletic director from 2005-22) and Bucks County Community College (2002-04). He also spent time as an assistant at Northern Illinois (2022-25), The College of New Jersey (2000-02) and Haverford College (1997-2000).
A Liberty Corner, NJ native, Kelly was a student assistant under head coach Steve Lappas for four seasons at Villanova before graduating in 1997. He earned a Master's degree from the College of New Jersey in 2002.
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