On March 13, 2014, Cerritos College honored former softball coach and faculty member Nancy Kelly by inducting her into the college's Hall of Fame. One of the early women's coaches to be hired by the campus, Kelly served as the college's first basketball coach and also spent 22 seasons as the Falcons softball coach. On the evening of August 17, 2014, just four days after her 78th birthday, Kelly passed away after a long battle with cancer. She became ill on July 30 and never recovered. One of the most outgoing and generous people ever, the passing of Kelly has affected players from her first season in 1976 all the way through to members of the 2014 Cerritos softball team.

"Nancy Kelly was a pioneer in women's collegiate athletics," stated Dr. Linda Lacy, Cerritos College President/Superintendent. "Her legacy will live on due to her generosity in the award of many scholarships to young women over the years and her service to Cerritos College. We will truly miss Nancy, but she will not be forgotten."

"Nancy had a big impact in my life, not only as a softball coach for many years, but as a mentor to me and many, many others she touched over the years," said Barbara Reinalda, who was a member of the first two softball teams in Cerritos history and now the Associate Head Softball Coach at Yale University. "She always had us hold ourselves accountable for what we did on and off the field and that carried over into our adult and professional lives. Nancy had such a positive impact on the lives of those she came in contact with and her loss will be felt by many."

Reinalda was inducted into the Cerritos College Hall of Fame in 2012, the inaugural year of the ceremony. Kelly was on hand that night to help honor Reinalda.

Current Cerritos softball coach Kodee Murray worked very closely with Kelly during her tenure. "A true pioneer for women's athletics, coaches and players alike, Coach Nancy Kelly is truly the face of Cerritos softball. Her reign as the head softball coach, continued support of the athletes with her 'Nancy Kelly Scholarship" and her ongoing support of the Cerritos College softball program make her loss very difficult."

Upon receiving her award (pictured, left) during her own the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Kelly stated, "I truly believe I was meant to be at Cerritos. The path that I took to get here isn't something you can plan. I came in at a time when Title IX started and it allowed me to coach the softball team. We didn't have a field, so we had to build our own field. What a great experience to help build our field, bring in players and then win the first ever softball state championship (1976). My time at Cerritos was wonderful and having several of my players from that first team here tonight shows how much of an impact we had on the lives of young people."

Kelly grew up in the tough streets of Philadelphia and beat the odds by earning an athletic scholarship at Temple University after graduating from Simon Gratz High School. While at Temple University, Kelly starred in basketball, field hockey, softball and tennis from 1954 to 1957. She averaged 28.7 points a 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, while 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. Nancy Kelly was inducted into the university's Hall of Fame in 1987.

She started the college's softball program in 1976 and after recruiting several local players and holding open tryouts, the team went on to post a 16-1 record and win the South Coast Conference championship. They followed that with a 27-3 record, conference championship and Southwest AIAW and National AIAW runner-up finishes. In 1978, Kelly and her team captured the first state championship and went 33-2 on the year, which included another undefeated conference championship. In her 22 seasons, Kelly coached her teams to 15 Southern California Regional Playoff appearances and finished with a 502-320-1 record at the time of her retirement in 1997.

In recognition of her dedication to the college and the athletic program, the college named the field in Kelly's honor on February 22, 2001 in a special ceremony. She continued to remain involved in the future of the softball players ever after her retirement. In 2003, she established the Nancy Kelly Academic Scholarship, which is awarded to a softball player who competed for two seasons and qualifies to transfer to a four-year college under NCAA rules and has been given out annually at the Foundation Golf Tournament.

"Nancy was a dedicated and a student-centered softball coach and instructor," said Dr. Dan Smith, Dean of Athletics. "Even after her retirement, she maintained close ties to both our physical education and athletic departments. The Nancy Kelly Scholarship Fund she set up has provided scholarships for many of our student-athletes, as well as physical improvements for our softball complex. She will be missed."

"I am saddened to hear about the loss of Nancy Kelly," said Athletics Director Dan Clauss. "Nancy was such a huge part of the history of Cerritos athletics, all the way back to starting our first softball team. She continued to contribute to the college in her retirement attending softball games, golf tournaments and raising money for scholarships. She had a bright personality and always made people feel comfortable to be around. It is a tremendous loss and she will be missed."

It was customary for Kelly to remain in contact with her former players, as well as colleagues and those in which she felt close.

"From the minute I finished up my years at Cerritos (2007-08), Coach Kelly continued to check up on me every few months or so," said 2008 scholarship recipient Katie Colln. "Just when I needed it, she would send an email or leave a voicemail asking me how I was doing and encouraging me to keep working hard at what I was passionate about. She always let me know that she was praying for me and that she was proud of me. She always signed her emails, "Blessings, Coach Kelly," and that's exactly what she was. I feel truly blessed to have had Coach Kelly as an encouragement through what I consider to be the most special time in my life."

Women's basketball coach Karen Welliver, whose office was right next door to Kelly's for many years said, "When I think of Nancy Kelly I think of a person full of enthusiasm. She was a role model for all of her athletes and the people that were fortunate to work with her. She was always ready with a smile and you felt the love that she had for others. Nancy illustrated this with how she continued to care about Cerritos College and the softball program. She was so kind. Nancy will be missed and myself and Cerritos was so lucky to have her as a part of our family."

Added Murray, "Coach Kelly exemplifies the statement, "Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon". Nancy, we will all miss you and thank you for your love and consistent support… and of course your stories.

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.

Details regarding a celebration of her life will be announced in the days to come.

To watch Nancy's Hall of Fame induction video, click HERE