CFL.ca Staff

WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Football Club announced today that Mike Kelly has been relieved of his duties as Head Coach. Kelly was named the club’s 27th Head Coach on December 2, 2008 and led the team to a 7-11 record during the 2009 season.

“We looked at the on the field performance of the team and the offence, we looked at some of the incidents that have happened outside but surrounding the football club and came to the conclusion that it would be in the best interest of the club to move forward in this different direction,” said Blue Bombers chairman Ken Hildahl.

Kelly, a former Blue Bombers offensive coordinator with nearly three decades of coaching experience came to Winnipeg with close to 30 years of coaching experience. Kelly was the offensive play-caller with the Blue Bombers between 1992 and 1996, as part of the teams that captured three regular season division titles and appeared in the Grey Cup twice. Kelly’s offence set 29 club records during his tenure in Winnipeg, including Matt Dunigan’s record 713 yards passing in a game.

In 2008 Kelly was the receivers coach for the Edmonton Eskimos. Prior to that, the Waterbury, CT native was a professor of sports management at Drexel University in Philadelphia instructing both undergraduate and graduate courses in coaching and leadership. In 2006-2007 Kelly was recognized by Drexel University as he was awarded a 'Make a Difference Award' for outstanding mentoring and teaching.

Kelly has five years of NFL experience working as an advanced pro scout for the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles - where he also was an offensive assistant/quality control. During his time with the Eagles, while working alongside one of the NFL's great coaches Andy Reid, the club won two Eastern Division Championships, while Kelly also coached in the 2003 Pro Bowl.

In 2000, Kelly added the XFL to his extensive coaching resume, where he worked as the offensive coordinator for the Orlando Rage. The Rage went a league best 8-2 during that season, winning the Eastern Division. Kelly's offence led the league in red zone scoring percentage, with QB Keff Brohm named First-Team All-XFL.

Kelly was the head coach at Valdosta State (GA) University from 1997-1999. In his three seasons there, Kelly coached 23 players to all-conference honours and had two players earn All-American status. His VSU teams set 13 school records during Kelly's tenure.

Kelly played quarterback at Bluffton College (OH), and earned his bachelor's degree in health, physical education and recreation. He later earned a master's degree in education at Edinboro (PA). In 2002, Kelly was honoured by his alma mater, and inducted into the Bluffton College Hall of Fame.