Hall of Fame

Wills R. Kelly

  • Class
    1970
  • Induction
    2001
  • Sport(s)

University of Minnesota, Morris
Director of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics
1970-1987

Kelly was extremely instrumental in the development of the Northern Sun Conference, the former women's conference, before the NSC and NIC merged to form the NSIC in 1992-1993. The Kelly Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence is named in honor of Willis R. Kelly and is awarded annually to the outstanding female student-athlete in the NSIC. In 2000-2001 the NSIC selected the Kelly award winner for the 16th consecutive academic year.Kelly was an associate professor of physical education at the University of Minnesota-Morris and coordinated the UMM Physical Education Department from 1970-1987. She became the first director of women's intercollegiate athletics at Minnesota-Morris in 1976 and was later promoted to athletic director for men's and women's athletics. Kelly's family will be accepting her posthumous induction.