N.C. State adds Jamill Kelly, Frank Beasley to coaching staff
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Justin Wilson (N.C. State Sports Information)
05/07/2012
RALEIGH, N.C. -- NC State wrestling head coach Pat Popolizio has announced that Frank Beasley and Jamill Kelly will join the program as assistant coaches. Beasley was a member of Popolizio's staff at Binghamton and Kelly joins the Wolfpack after serving as assistant coach at California-Polytechnic.
"I‘m extremely excited to have both of them join our staff here at NC State," Popolizio said.
A native of Odin, Illinois, Beasley joins the program after serving as an assistant on Popolizio's staff at Binghamton. Prior to that he served as the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Buffalo, where he helped lead the Bulls to three of its best seasons in program history.
Beasley was also an assistant coach at his alma mater Bloomsburg for two seasons, producing nine national tournament qualifiers and two All-Americans. In 2006-07, Bloomsburg won 12 dual meets which was the most wins for the program in 16 seasons.
"I couldn't be more excited to be here," said Beasley. "This is a program and administration that has made a huge commitment to wrestling, with a focus on developing the athletes that are here and bringing in the right kind of athletes to develop into a national championship team."
Beasley enjoyed a decorated wrestling career while attending Lincoln College, before transferring to Bloomsburg. He recorded more than 80 wins while wrestling at the 157, 165, and 174-pound weight classes. Almost half of Beasley's wins were recorded by fall.
Considered by most wrestling coaches to be a recruiter extraordinaire, four of his recruiting classes have ranked among the best in the country, with last year's class at Binghamton ranked as the 11th best class in the nation.
"I’m extremely excited to have him come down here to NC State with me,†Popolizio said. “We built a great relationship up at Binghamton and I know his work effort and the quality of person he is and the character that he will bring to this program.â€
Kelly, a silver medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, brings a wealth of experience as well as personal accomplishments to the Wolfpack wrestling program. Kelly wrestled for Oklahoma State and was a two-year starter as well as team captain. He finished second at the 2000 Big 12 Conference championships.
In 2004, Kelly won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials wrestling at 66kg (145.5 lbs) to represent the U.S. at the Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Last season Kelly was as an assistant coach at California-Poly, helping the Mustangs send four wrestlers to the NCAA Championships, two of which earned All-America honors.
Kelly has a great deal of coaching experience, having served as coach for the U.S. Junior World Freestyle Team in 2007, U.S. Freestyle Tour Team in 2006, and also assisted with many other junior-level teams while in Massachusetts.
Other coaching positions for Kelly include assistant coach at Harvard and also head coach of Dallas Dynamite Wrestling Club in Texas.
Kelly began his coaching career as head coach of the Cowboy Wrestling Club in Stillwater, Okla., helping with the development of the club as well as more than 100 area youth.
"I'm excited to have Jamill on our staff as well," Popolizio said. "We were teammates in college for a few years so I know he brings a tremendous work ethic and wealth of knowledge in the sport of wrestling."