HELENA — After more than three decades of working with high school students and student-athletes, Tim Kelly will retire at the end of the school year. Kelly’s intentions were announced in a press release from the Helena athletics department on Thursday.
Kelly, a Helena Capital and Carroll College graduate, has been a teacher and coach at Helena Capital since the early 1990s. During his tenure he has served as a coach in multiple sports, including head coaching positions with the girls basketball and golf programs. Kelly was also an assistant for the Bruins in boys basketball, volleyball and track and field.
“Coach Kelly has provided an example, not only to our student athletes, but to other coaches, as well,” said Helena athletic director Tim McMahon. “He has impacted hundreds of students over the years, both in the classroom and at practices. Tim constantly looked for the good in students, and he helped to guide them to be their best academically and athletically.”
Kelly took over the Helena Capital golf program in 2012 and mentored former Capital standout Coral Schulz to consecutive third-place finishes in 2012 and 2013. The 2013 girls team finished fourth in Class AA. Tevin Lewis was Kelly’s highest male finisher, capturing a tie for fifth place in the 2014 State AA golf invite.
“It has been my pleasure to coach with Coach Kelly,” said Helena High golf coach Bob Tipton. “His intentions have always been to do what was best for his athletes and the game of golf. Tim was always there to encourage our Helena High coaches and athletes, as well as his own. Tim was certainly an example of being a gentleman in a game described as a ‘gentleman’s game.’ I am proud to call him my friend.”
