Mercy College Names Ashlee Kelly Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletics Director for Student Services

Mercy College Names Ashlee Kelly Head Women's Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletics Director for Student Services 

           DOBBS FERRY, NY - Mercy College Director of Athletics Dr. Kevin T. McGinniss announced that Ashlee Kelly (Pittsburgh, PA) has been named head women's basketball coach and assistant athletics director for student services. In this dual position, Kelly will direct the women's basketball program and serve as the department liaison for financial aid, admissions and academic advising. She will also assist with compliance and the Student Athlete Advisory Council, while overseeing academic monitoring, institute the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program and serve as the department's Senior Women's Administrator.

           "We are very excited to have Ashlee as a member of our team at Mercy College," said McGinniss. "She has been highly successful as a collegiate student-athlete, as a professional player, and has been mentored by one of the best women's basketball coaches in the business while she was at Quinnipiac."

           "We were very pleased with the strong pool of candidates for this position," added McGinniss. "Ashlee is an excellent fit for the women's basketball program and our department as we move forward and will be a tremendous role model for all of our student-athletes."

           Kelly carries a strong basketball pedigree, playing four years (2000-04) at Division I Quinnipiac University for highly-regarded head coach Tricia Sacca-Fabbri. She completed her stellar career with the Bobcats ranked second all-time in both scoring (1,580 points) and rebounding (1,107). Her career rebound mark was the fourth-highest in Northeast Conference (NEC) history.  Kelly was named NEC Player of the Year during her junior season and was a two-time All-NEC First Team pick. She capped off her career by leading all NCAA Division I players in rebounding at 13.5 per game as a senior. One of the top interior players in league history, Kelly was named to the NEC's 25^th Anniversary Women's Basketball Team in January.

           "It's a perfect marriage for Mercy College and Ashlee," said Sacca-Fabbri. "It's a great step for Ashlee's career and we're very proud of her.  She'll make an immediate positive impact at Mercy for the women's basketball program and will be an outstanding asset for all of Mercy College's student-athletes."

           Following her collegiate career, Kelly went on to sign a professional contract with the Perik Jumpers in Holland for the 2004-05 season. In her one year, she led the nation in scoring at 24 points per game and rebounding at 15 boards per contest, helping her squad to a 2005 National Cup championship.

           Kelly began her coaching career as an assistant for the Connecticut Breeze U-13 and U-15 AAU teams for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.  She then served as an assistant for a youth Dutch league while she played overseas in the fall of 2004 and spring of 2005.  Since returning to the United States in the fall of 2005, she has served as a co-Head Coach of the Connecticut Storm U-15 AAU team. Kelly also served as director of Quinnipiac's women's basketball summer camps and has been an instructor at several other camps in the northeast.

           A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Kelly graduated from Quinnipiac in 2004, with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, earning Dean's List honors three consecutive years. She currently resides in Wallingford, CT. Her older brother, Don Kelly, is an infielder in the Detroit Tigers organization.  He is currently playing with the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) and is on the big club's 40-man roster.