University of South Alabama Athletics

Jason Kelly joined the University of South Alabama staff as Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services in the spring of 2012.

In his role, Kelly is 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 manages NCAA academic eligibility and progress toward graduation for the school’s 17 sport programs, working directly with volleyball and softball, and is a member of USA’s senior administrative staff.

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.

He serves as the Department of Athletics liaison to the Faculty Athletic Representative. Registrar, Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Accounting, and Student Affairs. He is also an active member of multiple University Presidential appointed committees including the Academic Calendar Committee, Access Control Committee and the Intercollegiate Athletic Council.

Kelly also serves as a member of the South Alabama athletics’ senior administrative staff with administrative oversight of the Athletic Compliance Services, Athletic Equipment Operations, Athletic Facilities and Game Operations, and the Student-Athlete Development and Academic Services.

He is currently the sport supervisor for track and field (2019-present) and was previously the sport supervisor for volleyball (2016-19). He has also served on the head coaches’ search committees for the sports of football, women’s volleyball, and women’s soccer.

Kelly came to USA after serving on the staff at Ohio in a variety of roles with the school’s academic services program.  He was promoted to Director of NCAA Eligibility and Student-Athlete Success in June of 2007, and after a year in that role Kelly moved up to an Assistant Athletic Director position in the same office; he was promoted again to Associate Athletic Director in his final year at the school.

His responsibilities at OU included providing supervision and direction for the academic services and tutoring staffs, overseeing NCAA academic eligibility and progress toward graduation for Bobcat football student-athletes and managing the operating budget for the academic services office.  Kelly also served as the primary liaison between the athletic department and the university’s faculty and staff, and he also advised student-athletes on scheduling, registration, selecting majors and career planning.

Kelly began at Ohio as an intern in August 2003, moving up to Assistant Director of Academic Services the following April.  As an assistant, he helped coordinate the school’s CHAMPS/LifeSkills program, coordinated and played host to potential recruits regarding academic information and was the advisor for the Bobcats’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

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.