Quincy University Hawks

Sean Kelly is in his eleventh season (2021-22) as a member of the QU coaching staff. He spent the first two seasons as a graduate assistant coach and was hired to continue his role in coaching the Hawks' linebackers. Prior to the 2017 season, Kelly was promoted to defensive coordinator and was named the recruiting coordinator. 

In 2016, all three of Kelly's starting linebackers (T.J. Daniels, Nate Rueckemann and Cody Leonard) were named All-GLVC with Daniels and Leonard earning first team honors.

With the Hawks, Kelly has coached Dan Camp, who earned All-American honors as a freshman and finished his career ranked third all-time on Quincy's all-time tackles list. Ike Onike joined Camp in the top five among QU's top solo tacklers and was named an All-GLVC first team choice in 2014. He was the first All-GLVC first team member in school history and was picked to play in the 2014 National Bowl Game in Miami.

Kelly also coached Cody Leonard who was voted as a Second Team All-American by the AFCA and D2CCA, First Team All-Region, GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, and a unanimous First Team All-GLVC selection in 2018. He was also a Harlon Hill Finalist.  Leonard led the NCAA with 15.3 tackles per game and led in total tackles with 168 with 88 of those being solo tackles. Leonard finished his career under Kelly with 376 total tackles which put him third on the Division II active list and 12th All-Time in all NCAA. Leonard was a three time All-GLVC player and holds the GLVC record for Total Tackles in a Season and average tackles per game. He also broke school records in nearly every tackling category with the addition of solo tackles.

In 2019, all three of Kelly’s starting linebackers (Peyten Chappel, Sam Mock, and Marvion Harris) earned All-GLVC honors, with Peyten Chappel earning First Team All-GLVC in his first year as a full time starter. Marvion Harris and Sam Mock also received All-GLVC honors. Both Chappel and Mock were in the top five in the conference in tackles and tackles for loss while Harris was second in the conference in interceptions behind Quincy’s Andrew Houston.

While at Quincy, Kelly has been a part of defenses that have ranked 24th in the nation in rushing defense (2014), 13th in the nation in defensive touchdowns (2016), 29th in total defense (2016), 29th in tackles for loss (2016) and 25th in passing yards allowed (2016), 13th in the nation in turnovers gained (2019), 5th in the nation in tackles for loss (2019), and 15th in the nation in interceptions (2019).

Kelly has also recruited the Greater St. Louis area for the Hawks for over 9 years. In that time he has recruited 50+ All-Conference performers, and helped make the city of St. Louis a pipeline for Quincy University. 

Kelly joined Quincy after completing his collegiate playing career in 2010. He was a four year member of the McKendree University football team where he played linebacker. The St. Louis, Missouri native earned Academic All-Conference honors in 2009 and 2010.
 

Kelly graduated from McKendree in the spring of 2011 with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary History Education and earned his Master's in Educational Leadership from QU in 2013.
 

Kelly and his wife, Stephanie, have two children Jack and Payton and reside in Quincy.