Kirk Kelley returned to Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 2018 to become the head baseball coach. He had previously coached at OKWU from 2009-11. Kelley serves as OKWU’s athletic director as well.
Kelley has significant experience coaching at the collegiate level. He served as the AD and baseball coach of Lyon College from 1993 to 2009. From 2011-13, he was the associate head coach at the University of Central Arkansas. He then turned his attention to football, becoming the first head football coach in the history of Lyon College from 2013-15. His last stop before returning to OKWU was as the AD and baseball coach of Eastern Oklahoma State University from 2015-18.
Under Kelley’s leadership, OKWU baseball has put together some of the most successful seasons in program history. In 2011, OKWU won the NCCAA National Championship. The Eagles claimed KCAC championships in 2019 and 2021, and in 2021 the program returned to the NAIA World Series. Kelley was honored as the 2011 NCCAA Coach of the Year, and also was named the KCAC Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021. In 2024, Kelley led his team to another KCAC Tournament Championship, making their way back to the NAIA Regional Tournament for the first time since 2021. In 2025, Kelley led his team back to the NAIA Regional Tournament for the second consecutive season, thanks to a KCAC Regular Season Championship.
While leading his team to a Regular Season Championship in 2025, Kelley earned the KCAC Head Coach of the Year. Kelley has coached the following atheltes to a KCAC Player of the Year season: Austin Sojka (2019), Cody Muncy (2021), Victor Sanchez (2024), Ravaughn Morgan (2025), and Pitcher of the Year Evan Foor (2025).
Kelley and his wife, Marcia, have 7 children: Kristen Thorne (wife of Isaac), Katherine Hensel (wife of James), Kraig Kelley, Kendra Henry (wife of Ayden), Kourtney Ray (wife of Derek), Kade Kelley, and Kyle Kelley. Kelley also became a grandpa in 2024 to granddaughter Sophia Thorne (daughter of Kristin & Isaac). Kristen, Katherine, Kourtney, Derek and James are graduates of OKWU.
For Kelley, OKWU is a special place.
“It is an honor to put on the Eagle uniform and to serve as the athletic director,” he said. “OKWU is an incredible place with incredible people.”
