Temple University Athletics
Temple Hall of Famer Nancy Kelly Passes Away
8.20.14 | General
PHILADELPHIA - Nancy Kelly, who was a standout student-athlete for Temple University in four sports during a Hall of Fame career in the 1950s, passed away on August 17 following a long battle with cancer. She was 78.
A native of Philadelphia and a graduate of Simon Gratz High School, Kelly starred in basketball, field hockey, softball and tennis from 1954 to 1957. She averaged 28.7 points per game in basketball and had 39 points in a victory over Drexel. An outstanding pitcher, she led Temple's softball team to an unbeaten season in 1956. In two varsity seasons, she won 10 straight games, pitched two no-hitters and three one-hitters.
Kelly made the All-College I team in field hockey and led Temple to an 8-1 record and on the tennis team she played on Temple's No. 1 doubles team. She received the highest athletic award bestowed on a Temple female athlete, a white blazer from the Women's Athletic Association. Following her graduation, Kelly played on the 1962 World AAU Basketball championship team. She was inducted into the Temple University's Hall of Fame in 1987.
In 1976 Kelly started the Cerritos College softball program in Norwalk, CA, spending 22 years as the program's coach. One of the early women's coaches to be hired by the campus, she also served as the college's first basketball coach. She was inducted into the College's Hall of Fame this past March.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Nancy Kelly Academic Scholarship. If you wish to make a donation online, please visit the Cerritos College Foundation website or make your check payable to the Cerritos College Foundation and reference this scholarship. If you have any questions, you may contact the Foundation Office directly at (562) 860-2451, extension 2526.
A native of Philadelphia and a graduate of Simon Gratz High School, Kelly starred in basketball, field hockey, softball and tennis from 1954 to 1957. She averaged 28.7 points per game in basketball and had 39 points in a victory over Drexel. An outstanding pitcher, she led Temple's softball team to an unbeaten season in 1956. In two varsity seasons, she won 10 straight games, pitched two no-hitters and three one-hitters.
Kelly made the All-College I team in field hockey and led Temple to an 8-1 record and on the tennis team she played on Temple's No. 1 doubles team. She received the highest athletic award bestowed on a Temple female athlete, a white blazer from the Women's Athletic Association. Following her graduation, Kelly played on the 1962 World AAU Basketball championship team. She was inducted into the Temple University's Hall of Fame in 1987.
In 1976 Kelly started the Cerritos College softball program in Norwalk, CA, spending 22 years as the program's coach. One of the early women's coaches to be hired by the campus, she also served as the college's first basketball coach. She was inducted into the College's Hall of Fame this past March.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Nancy Kelly Academic Scholarship. If you wish to make a donation online, please visit the Cerritos College Foundation website or make your check payable to the Cerritos College Foundation and reference this scholarship. If you have any questions, you may contact the Foundation Office directly at (562) 860-2451, extension 2526.
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