Central Catholic High School has announced the hiring of Matt Kelley as the school’s new head girls basketball coach.
Kelley, a 2000 graduate of Central Catholic, competed in basketball and football all four years and also played two seasons of baseball during his time with the Saints. He brings 23 years of coaching experience at both the junior high and high school levels, including several years coaching at his alma mater.
“I’m extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity to coach our historic program,” Kelley said. “I can’t wait to get in the gym.”
Kelley began his high school coaching career as Central Catholic’s freshman boys basketball coach from 2007 to 2012 before becoming varsity boys basketball head coach at The High School of Saint Thomas More. During his tenure from 2012 to 2018, Kelley guided the Sabers to the program’s first and only boys basketball sectional championship in 2014.
He later served as head boys basketball coach at Pontiac High School from 2020 to 2024, leading the Indians to their first sectional championship in 62 years in 2023. Kelley earned Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors in both 2014 and 2023 and owns a career varsity head coaching record of 154-121.
Kelley also spent two separate stints as an assistant coach under Central Catholic boys basketball head coach Jason Welch from 2018 to 2020 and again from 2024 to 2026.
Central Catholic Athletic Director Nate Thomas said Kelley’s experience and connection to the school made him the ideal candidate to lead the program.
“We are beyond excited to name Coach Kelley as our next Head Girls Basketball Coach,” Thomas said. “His vast experience as a head coach, his competitive nature, and his passion for our students and the game of basketball will only build upon our program’s tradition of excellence.”
Kelley replaces Debbie Coffman, who retired April 29 after 28 seasons leading the Saints program.
