Kelsey to lead LSU Tiger basketball operations On the court Tom Kelsey Kelsey (’86) was named director of basketball operations at LSU this past spring. is position is the latest stop in Kelsey’s 25 -year coaching career and his second for a Southeastern Conference (SEC) school. “e opportunity to work with another SEC program just doesn’t come along very often. is chance to get back in the SEC is a great one. It was tough the leave where I was,” said Kelsey. “But this was too good to pass up. When I was in this conference before–at this level of competition–I took it for granted. I appreciate where I am a lot more this time.” As director of basketball operations, Kelsey will be a fixture on the bench with LSU head coach Johnny Jones during games. He will also organize the program’s camps, assist with the Sixth Man Club, work with scheduling games and manage game details, among other responsibilities. “I am going to be able to watch the best coaches and players in the country. is is a great learning opportunity for me. As Yogi Berra said, ‘You observe a lot just by watching.’ is is a chance for me to get a Ph.D. in coaching by watching,” said Kelsey. Before joining the LSU staff, Kelsey was head coach of the Belhaven College (now University) men’s basketball team for seven years, during which time he posted a 121 - 100 record and advanced to the national tournament twice. Prior to his tenure at Belhaven, Kelsey served as the head boys’ basketball coach at Greater Atlanta Christian School. From 1998-2001, he worked as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama. Kelsey served as an assistant coach at Murray State University from 1995 -98 and for Lipscomb University during the 1994 - 95 season. Prior to that, from 1989- 1994, Tom Kelsey knows a good opportunity when he sees one. And the opportunity to work with the Louisiana State University basketball program was too good to pass up. Kelsey was athletic director and head men’s basketball coach at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. He also served on the coaching staffs for Athletes in Action, Franklin Road Academy in Nashville and Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn. A native of Chattanooga, Kelsey played for Lipscomb Hall of Fame coach Don Meyer and was a part of the 1986 NAIA national championship team. Kelsey said his days as a Bison built a solid foundation for his coaching career. “We learned about team from Coach. We all watched him sweep the floor before games. We learned that there is no detail too small for us as coaches,” said Kelsey. “ose of us who went into coaching try so hard to be like him and to make him proud. He is so much a part of who we are and how we coach and conduct ourselves,” he said. “We learned that there is no detail too small and that nothing is beneath us as coaches.” 24 LIPSCOMB NOW | Fall 2012 Alumni Profile

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Kelsey to lead LSU Tiger basketball operations

On the court

Tom Kelsey

Kelsey (’86) was named director of basketball operations at LSU this past spring. This position is the latest stop in Kelsey’s 25-year coaching career and his second for a Southeastern Conference (SEC) school.

“The opportunity to work with another SEC program just doesn’t come along very often. This chance to get back in the SEC is a great one. It was tough the leave where I was,” said Kelsey. “But this was too good to pass up. When I was in this conference before–at this level of competition–I took it for granted. I appreciate where I am a lot more this time.”

As director of basketball operations, Kelsey will be a fixture on the bench with LSU head coach

Johnny Jones during games. He will also organize the program’s camps, assist with the Sixth Man Club, work with scheduling games and manage game details, among other responsibilities.

“I am going to be able to watch the best coaches and players in the country. This is a great learning opportunity for me. As Yogi Berra said, ‘You observe a lot just by watching.’ This is a chance for me to get a Ph.D. in coaching by watching,” said Kelsey.

Before joining the LSU staff, Kelsey was head coach of the Belhaven College (now University) men’s basketball team for seven years, during which time he posted a 121-100 record and advanced to the national tournament twice. Prior to his tenure at Belhaven, Kelsey served as the head boys’ basketball coach at Greater Atlanta Christian School. From 1998-2001, he worked as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama.

Kelsey served as an assistant coach at Murray State University from 1995-98 and for Lipscomb University during the 1994-95 season. Prior to that, from 1989-1994,

Tom Kelsey knows a good opportunity when he sees one. And the opportunity to work with the Louisiana State University basketball program was too good to pass up.

Kelsey was athletic director and head men’s basketball coach at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. He also served on the coaching staffs for Athletes in Action, Franklin Road Academy in Nashville and Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn.

A native of Chattanooga, Kelsey played for Lipscomb Hall of Fame coach Don Meyer and was a part of the 1986 NAIA national championship team.

Kelsey said his days as a Bison built a solid foundation for his coaching career.

“We learned about team from Coach. We all watched him sweep the floor before games. We learned that there is no detail too small for us as coaches,” said Kelsey. “Those of us who went into coaching try so hard to be like him and to make him proud. He is so much a part of who we are and how we coach and conduct ourselves,” he said.

“We learned that there is no detail too small and that nothing is beneath us as coaches.”

24 LIPSCOMB NOW | Fall 2012

Alumni Profile