John “Pat” Kelly was known and beloved by many during the 40 years he served as athletic director, football coach, and history teacher at Penn-Trafford High School. He passed away in December of 2012, but his devotion to education and sports lives on through a scholarship created for students who are equally dedicated to athletics and academics.
Pat was an athlete and graduate of the district and returned after college to begin his teaching career. He immediately became an assistant football coach and was later hired as the first head football coach of the combined football team after Penn Joint and Trafford high schools merged. He was eventually appointed athletic director where he played an instrumental role in the shaping of the high school’s athletic programs.
Penn Township Police Chief John Otto, who knew him well, recalled how his guidance went beyond sports. “You could tell in his day-to-day activities that he wanted to teach you something,” Otto told the Pittsburgh Tribune in 2013. “His teachings weren’t just about history or football or athletics. That may have been where it started, but it always ended up being a long-term life lesson.”
After his retirement in 1997, Pat stayed involved in Penn-Trafford sports, keeping score for sporting events. Ultimately, he served the Penn-Trafford athletic program for 55 years. His dedication to the students of Penn-Trafford prompted his family to organize the annual Pat Kelly Memorial Golf Outing, which raises money for the Pat Kelly Scholarship Fund and Penn-Trafford Community Foundation.