Hayden Kelly returned to his alma mater, UTPB, as outside linebackers coach in May 2026. He was previously on staff as the linebackers coach in 2024 following his five-year playing career ending in 2023.
As a graduate student in 2023, Kelly was named the LSC Linebacker of the Year and was a member of both the AP and D2CCA All-American first teams. Kelly had 114 total tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss that season as he became just the third player in program history to record 200 career tackles. Kelly became the second Falcon to earn either a D2CCA First-Team All-America and First-Team All-Region selection. He was also the second Falcon recognized as an AP All-American (Second-Team).
Kelly earned multiple awards as a player: 2023 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America First Team, 2023 D2CCA All-America First Team and All-Super Region 4 First Team, Associated Press Division II All-American Second Team, LSC Linebacker of the Year and All-LSC First Team, D2Football.com Elite 100 Squad and All-Texas Non-FBS Squad. He was also the only football player in the LSC to earn Scholar-Athlete honors.
