Kelley, "Snooks" (John)
Hockey
b. July 11, 1907, Cambridge, MA
d. April 11, 1986
Kelly played hockey at Boston College, graduating in 1930, and became a high school teacher. He agreed to serve as unpaid volunteer coach at his alma mater in 1933, after the sport had been dropped for a time because of the depression.
Except for four years in the U. S. Navy during World War II, Kelly coached Boston College until 1975, when he retired. Unlike other major college hockey coaches, he refused to recruit Canadian players, and BC in 1949 became the first team to win the NCAA championship with a roster made up entirely of U. S. players.
Named coach of the year in 1959 and 1972, Kelly had a 501-242-15 record. He coached the U. S. national team in 1972.