Brian Kelly, a 1992 graduate of Malone majoring in Physical Education, joins the Malone Athletics Hall of Fame as a phenomenal track & field athlete from 1989 to 1991. Although Brian was an outstanding decathlete for the program, his specialty was the pole vault. And how truly special he was.
A 1986 graduate of Green High School where he was the Div. I state champion in the pole vault as a senior, Brian still holds the Ohio High School state indoor record at 16’1”.
It’s unlikely that anyone knows him much better than Mark McClure, who has known Brian for 28 years since they were teammates in the 8th grade and at Green High School. And even though Brian’s specialty did indeed end up being the pole vault, Mark recalls how Brian’s coaches were actually very much against him taking up the pole vault when he first started out. “Brian wanted to do the pole vault right from the start,” says McClure. “But the coaches wanted him to do anything but the pole vault. They thought he was going to kill himself because he wanted to push the envelope so far and learn how to bend the pole. He basically wanted to do something that wasn’t usually done until later on in the learning curve. I still have memories of hearing sounds around the vault pit and looking over to see Brian anywhere but on the pit. But Brian was born to vault and it’s still one of his many passions.”
After transferring to Malone from The Ohio State University in 1988, where he was a two-year member of the OSU track & field program, Brian went on to have one of the most successful careers in the annals of the Pioneer track & field program. During his time at Malone, Kelly was the top pole vaulter in the NAIA and with five total chances to compete at the NAIA national meet (indoor and outdoor), he placed no lower than third at those national events. In 1989, he placed third in the pole vault at both the indoor and outdoor NAIA national meets while also earning the NCCAA national title that year. He then went on to become a two-time NAIA national champion, winning the outdoor title in the pole vault as a junior and a senior. In all, he claimed five NAIA All-America honors including an indoor national runner-up finish as a senior. He also earned the NCCAA pole vault national title in 1991. In addition, Brian was a three-time All-Ohio Champion (in 1989, ’90, and ’91). As a decathlete, Brian has scored 6128 points, which still ranks him in the top 10 all-time at Malone. He still holds Malone’s indoor pole vault record at 17’0” and, with a leap of 17’ 4 ¾”, has the second-highest jump in Malone history, only ¼” behind the Pioneer record holder. And, oh yes, that record holder ---- none other than the 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Tim Mack. A pretty good company wouldn’t you say?
Tim Mack recalls what an overall mentor and motivator Brian was to everyone on his team. “Brian was always there to help with our discipline and our athletic technique,” said Mack. His presence and athleticism forced everyone else to be at their best. He would also convince us to take part in college activities, including intramural sports, telling us that it would improve our coordination. And he showed us that becoming a better athlete was also about becoming a better person. Brian was a huge influence in my life and I’ve never forgotten the skills in all these areas that he has taught me.”
One of the most respected vault coaches in the state of Ohio, Brian is currently an Assistant Track & Field Coach at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. He works with jumpers and coached the 2008 Ohio Division II state runner-up in the girl’s pole vault. He also helped direct CVCA to the 2008 and 2009 Ohio Girls Division II Track & Field Championships. In addition, he continues to train and jump himself.
Brian is self-employed as a financial advisor, being the owner of Kelly Financial Services, Inc., and he resides in Cuyahoga Falls. Brian has two daughters, Morgan and Makenzie, of whom he is very proud.
