Football
- Title:
- Associate Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Charles Kelly brought his defensive expertise to Alabama head coach Nick Saban's defensive staff in 2019 as the associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Kelly, a native of Ozark, Ala., joined the Crimson Tide's staff after one season as the special teams coordinator and safeties coach at Tennessee. Prior to Knoxville, he coached five seasons at Florida State (2013-17), including the final four years as the Seminoles' defensive coordinator. Kelly has coordinated defenses and coached the secondary at Jacksonville State (1994-98), Henderson State (1999), Nicholls State (2005), Georgia Tech (2012) and Florida State (2014-17). He has a decorated background on special teams, directing those units at Georgia Tech (2006-07), Florida State (2013) and Tennessee (2018). Overall, Kelly has coached 16 All-Americans and won five conference championships, including three ACC titles and a SEC Championship in his career. As a special teams coordinator, he has coached a Ray Guy Award winner and a Lou Groza Award winner.
In 2021, Kelly returns three safeties with extensive experience, including Jordan Battle, DeMarcco Hellams and Daniel Wright along with Malachi Moore and Brian Branch who each saw extensive action at the star or nickelback position in 2020. Battle, Hellams and Wright finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively, on the team in tackles in 2020, combining for 188 stops, three interceptions and 10 pass breakups. Moore led the team in interceptions with three while Branch added two picks and seven pass breakups.
Xavier McKinney and Jared Mayden roamed the safety positions in 2019 under Kelly's direction. McKinney led the team with 95 tackles and added three interceptions while Mayden paced the defense with four interceptions to go along with 59 tackles. Alabama ranked fourth nationally while leading the SEC in pass efficiency defense (109.75) during Kelly's first year in Tuscaloosa.
While at Tennessee, Kelly's special teams were solid, blocking five kicks (No. 5 nationally), ranking fourth in the country in punt return defense (2.00 yards per return) and fourth in the league in punt returns (12.80 ypr). His safeties Nigel Warrior and Micah Abernathy turned in solid seasons with Warrior finishing second on the team at 64 tackles while Abernathy made 38 stops with three tackles for loss.
Kelly spent five years at Florida State, serving as the defensive coordinator the final four years on Jimbo Fisher's staff after taking over for former Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt in 2014. His defenses in Tallahassee ranked in the nation's top 25 across his final three years, including No. 18 in 2017 after allowing only 331.1 total yards per game. FSU finished 22nd nationally in total defense in 2016 (349.1 ypg) and his 2015 unit ranked ninth in scoring defense (17.8 ppg).
He coached 10 NFL Draft picks as the coordinator for the 'Noles, including first round defensive backs Jalen Ramsey (No. 5 overall) and Derwin James (No. 17). He also mentored several first team All-Americans, including Tarvarus McFadden and Ramsey. Â
The Seminoles led the nation in sacks in 2016 (3.92 per game) behind 16 sacks from defensive end DeMarcus Walker. FSU also finished 22nd nationally in total defense (349.1) that season. The 2015 unit ranked ninth in the nation in scoring defense (17.8 points per game) and No. 19 in total defense (336.9). Kelly's defense in 2014 led Florida State to the first-ever College Football Playoff and helped the Seminoles produce a program-record 29-game win streak.
Kelly traveled to Florida State after seven seasons at Georgia Tech, where he coached special teams, defensive backs and served as the interim defensive coordinator during his tenure. He was elevated to defensive coordinator for the Yellow Jackets in the sixth game of the 2012 season when Georgia Tech had a 2-4 record. Kelly helped GT finish out the season 5-3, including a Sun Bowl victory over Southern Cal, where Kelly's defense held the high-powered Trojans' offense to just 205 yards and seven points.
In 2011, Kelly's defensive backs led a pass defense that finished No. 2 in the ACC. Two years prior in 2009, Kelly's unit helped Georgia Tech win the ACC Championship and go to the Orange Bowl, finishing 11-3. He served as the Yellow Jackets' special teams coordinator in 2006 and 2007, coaching punter Durant Brooks to the Ray Guy Award in 2007.
Kelly coached at Nicholls State from 2002 to 2005, serving as defensive backs coach for two seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator. They captured the Southland Conference title in 2005 and ranked No. 17 in the nation (FCS) in total defense. He was instrumental in developing two-time All-America cornerback Chris Thompson, who went on to be drafted by Jacksonville in 2004.
He spent two years at Eufaula (Ala.) High School after five years as a defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State (1994-98) and Henderson State (1999). He coached running backs and defensive backs at JSU and defensive backs at Henderson State. Kelly began his coaching career at Phenix City (Ala.) Central High School (1990-92) before returning to Auburn as a graduate assistant in 1993.
He is a 1990 graduate of Auburn with a degree in secondary math education. He then earned his master's degree in education from Troy in 2002. Kelly and his wife Kristy have three daughters, Caroline, Kathleen and Charli Grace.
