OKLAHOMA CITY - The Classen SAS @ Northeast athletic department announced the hiring of Brian Kelly as the new head coach for their football program on Tuesday.

Kelly arrives at Classen SAS after serving as a Special Education instructor at John Marshall High School and has been employed by the Oklahoma Public Schools for five years.

Kelly began his coaching career at Sam Houston State University where he coached Tight Ends and Special Teams. From SHSU, Kelly joined the staff at the University of Maryland and again served as an assistant coach for Tackles, Tight Ends, and Special Teams for the Terrapins.

Coach Kelly also had a stop at the University of Memphis and served as Outside Linebackers Coach for a defense that ranked third, 16th, and third in NCAA Division I Total defense over three consecutive seasons and also included victories over Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. Other collegiate stops included Mars Hill University (Linebackers and Special Teams Coordinator), Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Interim Head Coach) and Eastern Illinois University (Tight Ends and Special Teams Coordinator).

Kelly also has coaching experience at the high school level, as he served as the Head Football Coach for Edmond Santa Fe High School and has also served as Assistant Head Coach / Consultant at the original OKC John Marshall High School, Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator for 2006 2A State Champion Millwood High School, and has also coached Linebackers and Baseball for Western Heights High School.

Coach Kelly was born in Oklahoma City and attended Moore High School. After graduating from Moore High School, Kelly attended and played collegiately at Navarro (TX) Junior College and Oklahoma State University under Head Coaches Jimmy Johnson and Pat Jones.

Kelly has also served as Defensive Coordinator for the Las Vegas / Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League and has worked as a testing administrator for the National Invitation Combine (NIC). He has also served as Head Football Coach / General Manager of the Oklahoma City Bounty Hunters (80-8) where he was selected as GDFL National Coach of the Year in 2014. Coach Kelly also served as the Assistant Head Coach and interim Head Coach of the Oklahoma City Diamondbacks (38-2) where he was selected as OMFL Coach of the Year in 2013, and is currently on his second tour of duty with the Oklahoma Bears serving as Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator (42-3).

Kelly is married to Mitzi Shelton of Mayfield, Kentucky and they have four sons: Brice (6), Bishop (22), Brooks, (19), and Brady (17).