FAIRFAX, Va. – Former George Mason University men's basketball assistant coach Aaron Kelly has been named the new head coach at his alma mater, Catholic University.
 
Kelly has served as a trusted assistant for Mason head coach Dave Paulsen for four seasons in Fairfax and 12 campaigns overall, including successful stops at Bucknell and Williams College.
 
At Mason, Kelly has played a key role in leading the program's steady improvement within the Atlantic 10. He's helped the Patriots set or match new program records for A-10 wins in three consecutive seasons, including 11 in 2018-19. He has served as the Patriots' recruiting coordinator while working to bring in a series of All-Atlantic 10 selections and A-10 Most Improved Players.
 
""I've been blessed to have worked side by side with Aaron for the past 12 years," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "It has been a tremendous pleasure to see his growth as a coach, teacher, mentor and leader. Catholic is getting a great one. Not a good one. A great one."
 
Kelly graduated from Catholic in 2006 with a bachelor of arts in history. The Cardinals totaled an 89-28 record, advancing to four conference finals and capturing Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championships in 2004 and 2006. They also made four postseason appearances, including three in the NCAA tournament in 2003, 2004 and 2006. Catholic was also ranked in the top-25 nationally with a high of No. 11 in the NABC Division III Coaches Poll on Jan. 22, 2003.
 
"In my 25 years as a college head coach, there has never been a better assistant at connecting with people in every aspect of the job," Paulsen said.  He is remarkable at building and nurturing relationships with current, future and former student-athletes. Additionally, he has been exceptional at embracing faculty, staff, alumni and supporters of the team to ultimately build a sense of one complete program. He is a dynamic teacher of the game. He is a person of the highest integrity and character. I know how passionate he is about Catholic, and the opportunity to come back to his alma mater was just too enticing to not pursue. The Catholic student-athletes will be ecstatic to have him as their head coach."

Kelly is the second Mason assistant to earn a head coaching gig in the past two weeks. Longtime Paulsen assistant Dane Fischer was named the head coach at William & Mary earlier this month.
 
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