Jason Kelly was promoted to Deputy Athletics Director in the fall of 2026. He joined the University of South Alabama staff in the spring of 2012 and was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations in April of 2020.
In Kelly’s current role as Deputy Athletics Director, he will serve as the secondary supervisor for football, while continuing his sport supervisor role for baseball, track and field, and volleyball. He has also served on the head coaches’ search committees for the sports of football, women’s volleyball, women’s golf and women’s soccer. Kelly will continue to have administrative oversight over the Athletic Business Office, Athletic Equipment Operations, Athletic Facilities and Event Operations, and the Student-Athlete Services.
He is currently the sport supervisor for baseball, track and field, and volleyball, and secondary for football. He has also served on the head coaches’ search committees for the sports of football, women’s volleyball, women’s golf and women’s soccer.
He also serves as the Department of Athletics liaison to the Faculty Athletic Representative. Registrar, Admissions, and Student Affairs. He is an active member of multiple University Presidential appointed committees including the Academic Calendar Committee, Advising Leadership Committee, Safety and Environmental Compliance Committee, Access Control Committee, Registrar Advisory Committee and the Intercollegiate Athletic Council.
During his time at South Alabama, he has served as the Director of Student-Athlete Services (June 2012-January 2015), Assistant Athletic Director/Academic Services (January 2015-June 2018), and Associate Athletic Director (July 2018-April 2020) before moving into his current role.
While overseeing Student-Athlete Academic Services, Kelly was responsible for administering the day-to-day administrative and academic needs of USA’s nearly 400 student-athletes while overseeing a Student-Athlete Academic Services staff of five full-time employees as well as a comprehensive tutoring staff. Kelly managed NCAA academic eligibility and progress toward graduation for the school’s 17 sport programs, working directly with volleyball and softball.
Kelly came to USA after serving on the staff at Ohio in a variety of roles, most recently serving as the Associate Athletic Director for NCAA Eligibility and Student-Athlete Success. During his time at Ohio University, Kelly worked directly with the football program.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State in 2001 — he was a student athletic trainer for three years during that time — before serving as a compliance intern at the school while working on his master’s degree. He earned a master’s in sport administration in 2003.
Kelly has one son, Logan.
