A quarter of a century being involved with the Broadneck High School girls lacrosse team provided Katy Kelley with innumerable memories and plenty of awards.
Now she needs one more spot in the trophy case. Kelley, who retired as head coach after leading her team to its fifth straight state championship last year, has been named the National Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Associations.
“This recognition is truly humbling, and I’m deeply thankful,” Kelley said. “The honor belongs to the Broadneck lacrosse program as a whole. It is a reflection of the dedication of outstanding assistant coaches, a supportive and grounded Broadneck athletic culture, and the relentless effort and competitive spirit shown by the talented and selfless athletes who have represented our values exceptionally throughout the years.”
After a dozen years as an assistant coach under Karen Tengwall, a tenure that included three state championships, Kelley took over the program in 2014. She continued to build on the program’s success and won her first state title as head coach in 2021, the first year after the COVID-19 pandemic. Her teams haven’t ended a season without a state title since.
The significance of Kelley’s work on the field has been matched by her efforts off of it, Broadneck Athletics Director Kevin Necessary said. Kelley, who is also a science teacher at the school, has helped to build an enhance a school culture of positivity, teamwork and success.
“Coach Kelley’s impact on Broadneck athletics is immeasurable,” Necessary said. “She never needed five consecutive state championships to be one of the greatest coaches of all time. That was just the culmination of a career that, in many ways, is unparalleled. She leaves a legacy of hard work, commitment and being a role model in our community.”