Pat Kelsey, 33, is Xavier's Associate Head Coach. Kelsey, who spent the last eight seasons at Wake Forest, is a former Xavier team captain. "I am ecstatic to announce the hiring of one of the top assistant coaches in all of college basketball to our coaching staff," said Mack. "Pat Kelsey is regarded as one of the best assistant coaches in America. He has been pursued by some of America's top programs and has been involved in several head coaching vacancies but decided to return to his hometown of Cincinnati and Xavier, our alma mater. I view his hiring as a major coup for the Xavier Nation. He's going to out work, out hustle and out effort the competition. Most importantly, Pat embodies what Xavier stands for and believes in the total development of our student athletes.Welcome home Kels." Kelsey was equally excited about his return to Xavier and the City of Cincinnati. "It is a thrill to return to Xavier to again be a part of the storied history of basketball excellence," said Kelsey. "Xavier is home and it is an honor to serve XU once again. I am excited to work with Chris whom I firmly believe is one of the brilliant young head coaches in America. Xavier has become one of the premier programs in college basketball and I hope to contribute to even greater success." "Wake Forest is a special place and leaving is very tough," Kelsey said. "Dino, the staff and players are family. The job Dino has done in the wake of Coach Prosser's death in lifting the program back to national prominence is extraordinary. Dino, Jeff (Battle) and Mike (Muse) have helped shape me into the coach that I am today and I am forever indebted to them." Kelsey earned the reputation as one of the nation's top young talents in college basketball during his eight seasons at Wake Forest, including three years as the director of basketball operations and five years as an assistant coach, under the late Skip Prosser and most recently under current Wake head coach Dino Gaudio. Kelsey began his coaching career at his prep alma mater, Cincinnati's Elder High School, from 1998-2001 as an assistant coach under former Xavier guard Joe Schoenfeld. Kelsey first came to Wake Forest in the spring of 2001, joining Prosser's first Deacon staff as director of basketball operations. Mack was an assistant on Prosser's staff during Kelsey's three years as DBO. After three years in the DBO position, Prosser promoted Kelsey to assistant coach prior to the 2004-05 season. Since his arrival in Winston-Salem in 2001, Wake Forest has averaged nearly 21 wins per year in eight seasons, earning five NCAA Tournament berths, an NIT berth, a No. 1 national ranking during two different seasons and an ACC regular season championship. In his role at Wake, Kelsey was involved in several facets of the Demon Deacon basketball program. He was a tireless recruiter, instrumental in helping Wake Forest sign several recruiting classes that have been ranked among the best in the nation. In addition to his recruiting prowess, Kelsey was also recognized as an excellent teacher and tactician in terms of player development, scouting and game preparation. He worked especially close with the Deacon big men. "There is not a more conscientious, harder-working coach in America than Pat," said Gaudio. Kelsey also earned a reputation as an innovative marketer during his time in Winston-Salem, N.C. He played a major role in helping create the lively pre-game festivities at all home games, working with current XU head coach and former Wake 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. He was first associated with Prosser as a leader in the Xavier backcourt for three seasons (1996 to 1998), helping the Musketeers reach two NCAA Tournaments. The former point guard served as team co-captain during the 1997-98 season and was voted the team's Most Inspirational Player in 1996 and 1998. The late Prosser described Kelsey while he was at Xavier as "someone who goes at everything extremely hard. He does that academically. He does that in basketball." Kelsey began his playing career at Wyoming in 1993-94, starting 22 games as a freshman, before transferring back to his hometown to play at Xavier. Prior to college, Kelsey earned All-City, All-Greater Cincinnati League and Ohio All-Tournament honors while leading Elder to a 25-4 record and the 1993 Ohio Division I State Championship. 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 and marketing. Kelsey and wife, Lisa, are the parents of two daughters, two-year-old Ruthie and Caroline, who was born in February of 2009. |
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