Football
- Title:
- Associate Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Charles Kelly brings 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., joins 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.
He will be tasked with finding a replacement for All-American safety Deionte Thompson in his first year in Tuscaloosa, but the veteran coach of 25 years will have tools at his disposal. Junior Xavier McKinney returns after starting 15 games a season ago along with safeties and nickel backs Shyheim Carter, Jared Mayden and Daniel Wright.
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 four conference championships, including three ACC titles, in his career. As a special teams coordinator, he has coached a Ray Guy Award winner and a Lou Groza Award winner.
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 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 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 total defense (349.1) that season. The 2015 squad's defense 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 California, 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. 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 after five years as a defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State (1994-98) and Henderson State (1999). He coached running backs and defensive backs at Jacksonville State 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.
