Kelly Ellis joins the Wesleyan coaching staff in 2025 as the Tight Ends Coach. Although this marks his first experience at the collegiate level, he brings with him 18 years of high school football coaching experience. For the past 18 years, he has coached at Middletown High School, where he most recently served as the Passing Game Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach.
In 2019, while coaching Quarterbacks, he helped break the school record for passing yards and touchdowns thrown in a season. During his tenure, he helped develop 48 All-State players including former Wesleyan graduate Dario Highsmith ‘20 and Tyshaun James, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in May 2022. He also helped place over 40 football players into Division I, II and III schools, including Ivy and NESCAC schools. Over nearly two decades on the sidelines, he has developed a reputation for his knowledge of the game, ability to mentor young athletes, and passion for helping players grow both on and off the field.
In addition to coaching, Kelly is in his 17th year as an educator at Beman Middle School in Middletown CT. He currently serves as the 8th Grade STEM teacher and has also taught 7th and 8th Grade Mathematics. His dual background in teaching and coaching reflects his commitment to building character, discipline, and teamwork in student-athletes.
Kelly graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. In 2009, he earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of New Haven. He is a native of Greenville NC. Kelly currently resides in East Hampton CT with his wife of 13 years, Elisabeth and their three children, Hunter, Riley and Cody.
