PHOENIX – Jason Kelly - formerly the associate head coach, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Washington - has been named the pitching coach for Sun Devil Baseball, as announced by head coach Tracy Smith today.
In seven seasons at Washington, Kelly led a pitching staff that carried the Huskies to three NCAA post-season appearances - including the 2018 College World Series - after UW had only made the postseason three times in 13 seasons prior to his arrival. He also earned a reputation as one of the nation's top recruiters, assembling nationally renowned classes on a yearly basis.
D1Baseball.com tabbed Kelly as the National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2018 following the Huskies' run to the College World Series. Kelly mentored 15 pitchers at Washington that were selected in the MLB Draft since 2013 – seven of which were selected in the Top 15 rounds.
"I am thrilled to join the staff at Arizona State and excited to be a part of the tradition that is Sun Devil Baseball," Kelly said. "It's always an honor to work with a program with as much pedigree as ASU and I look forward to arriving in Phoenix and doing my part to develop these young men and help set them up for success in all facets of their careers."
Kelly joined the Washington baseball staff as pitching coach in August of 2012, moving to the UW after having spent the previous six seasons developing a top-notching pitching staff at Cal Poly. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach at Washington in 2014.
His 2019 pitching staff accomplished a first in program history by having five different pitchers record 50 or more strikeouts. Josh Burgmann (101), Jordan Jones (79), Chris Micheles (76), Stevie Emanuels (65) and Jack Enger (61) formed one of the most intimidating staffs of Kelly's tenure. After the season, Burgmann (5th), Micheles (14th) and Jones (16th) all heard their named called in the top-20 rounds of the MLB Draft.
The 2018 pitching staff logged the second most innings among all Pac-12 hurlers, trailing only Oregon State, yet they put on an impressive display of control, issuing the fewest wild pitches, fewest hit batters and just one more walk than the lowest total by any other Conference staff. Under Kelly's direction, the Huskies were fourth in the Pac-12 with a 3.81 ERA.
Kelly also mentored a pair of All-Pac-12 performers in 2018, Joe DeMers and Alex Hardy. Kelly spear-headed the first-ever perfect game thrown by a Husky, calling an 84-pitch masterpiece by DeMers against UC Riverside. DeMers would go on to be selected in the 11th-round of the MLB Draft, yet another Kelly protege to hear their name called in the draft.
On the recruiting front, Kelly is a tireless worker who helped build several of the Huskies' best classes. The Huskies welcomed in a top-10 recruiting class in 2017 thanks to Kelly, many of whom made an immediate impact in 2017. Eight newcomers pitched for the Huskies in 2017 and helped UW rank fifth in the Pac-12 with a 3.92 ERA. Several veterans anchored the staff, namely All-Pac-12 performer Noah Bremer. Bremer (sixth round) and Greg Minier (32nd round) would go on to hear their names called in the 2017 MLB Draft.
In 2016, the Huskies were among the best in fewest walks allowed, ranking third in the Pac-12. The squad was full of inexperienced pitchers yet Kelly was able to establish the Huskies as one of the best staffs in the league, especially in the bullpen. At the backend of the bullpen was Troy Rallings, who was the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, a unanimous first team All-American and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He also was huge in the development of Spencer Jones, who was a 10th round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft.
In 2015, Kelly was key to another accomplished pitching staff. The 3.01 team ERA on the season was the second best in the Pac-12 conference. Senior starting pitcher Tyler Davis was named to the All-Pac-12 team for the second consecutive year and became the UW all-time leader in innings pitched (358 2/3). He was selected in the 23rd round of the MLB draft, along with pitcher Troy Rallings, taken in the 36th round.
Kelly also played an important role in recruiting a talented class of 2015, ranked 34th nationally by Perfect Game. Among the 14 players, Kelly helped land Joe DeMers, the 11th ranked right-handed pitcher in the nation.
In 2014, Kelly helped Washington to one of its most successful seasons ever. The Huskies (41-17, 21-9) reached their first NCAA post-season appearance in 10 years and finished second in the Pac-12 Conference race. It was the UW's best finish since 2004 and the 21 Conference wins were the second most since the north and south merged in 1999. The Huskies also achieved their highest national rankings in team history, reaching fifth in Baseball America, Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball.
The pitching staff played a huge role in Washington's 2014 success. The team ERA of 3.11 ranked third in the pitching-rich Pac-12 Conference and was the lowest by the Huskies since 1985. The Huskies also ranked second in the conference with 17 saves.
Kelly helped mentor and coach many players to break-out seasons in 2014. Davis emerged as one of the best pitchers in the nation, going 11-2 with a 1.60 ERA, earning All-Pac-12 Honors. Davis was a Golden Spikes Semifinalist, Dick Howser Award semifinalist and Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year watch list.
Another starting pitcher Jeff Brigham broke out under Kelly and earned honorable mention All-Conference honors and was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. In all, three pitchers were part of a school record eight players selected in the 2014 Draft.
In 2013, Kelly made an immediate impact at Washington, helping mold the Huskies' pitching staff that boasted a 3.88 ERA. One of the pitchers under his wings -- Austin Voth -- ended up third in the conference with 98 strikeouts and was drafted in the fifth round by the Nationals.
In 2012, Coach Kelly led the Cal Poly pitching staff to a stellar 3.48 earned run average, led by a pair of starters, Joey Wagman and Kyle Anderson. Wagman posted a 9-3 record and a 2.33 ERA with just 21 walks in 108.1 innings while Anderson was 10-1 with a 3-40 ERA, walking just 16 in 92.2 frames.
As a staff, Cal Poly pitchers surrendered just 155 bases on balls in 499 innings last season, good enough to rank No. 27 in the nation (out of 291 Division I teams) in walks per nine innings.
In 2011, under Kelly's direction, the Mustangs posted a team ERA of 3.60, with 152 walks in 460.1 innings. The 3.60 ERA was the best in Cal Poly's 17-year Division I existence to that point (and was bested by the 3.48 mark the following season).
In his first season at Cal Poly, he coached a pair of pitchers (Evan Reed and Thomas Eager) selected inside the first five rounds of the Major League Draft.
Kelly joined the Cal Poly staff as pitching coach in 2007. Before that, he'd spent two seasons at Chico State, helping the Wildcats to the Division II College World Series in each of those seasons.
The 2005 team finished the season 42-16-1 and the 2006 squad was 46-21 and finished as national runner-up. Kelly's 2005 Chico State pitching staff posted a 3.00 ERA, sixth-best in the country.
Prior to coaching at Chico State, Kelly spent one season (2004) working in baseball operations at Cal Poly and one season (2003) coaching at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. He also coached summer college teams from 2002-04, helping both the San Luis Obispo Blues and the Anchorage Bucs to the National Baseball Congress World Series.
Kelly was a pitcher at Cal Poly in 1999. After redshirting in 2000, he went on to pitch at Cuesta in 2001 and at Missouri Valley College in 2002, helping the Vikings to a regional title game appearance in 2002.
A 1998 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, Calif., Kelly and his wife, Tracy, are the parents of two children, daughter Peyton and son Cade.
In seven seasons at Washington, Kelly led a pitching staff that carried the Huskies to three NCAA post-season appearances - including the 2018 College World Series - after UW had only made the postseason three times in 13 seasons prior to his arrival. He also earned a reputation as one of the nation's top recruiters, assembling nationally renowned classes on a yearly basis.
D1Baseball.com tabbed Kelly as the National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2018 following the Huskies' run to the College World Series. Kelly mentored 15 pitchers at Washington that were selected in the MLB Draft since 2013 – seven of which were selected in the Top 15 rounds.
"I am thrilled to join the staff at Arizona State and excited to be a part of the tradition that is Sun Devil Baseball," Kelly said. "It's always an honor to work with a program with as much pedigree as ASU and I look forward to arriving in Phoenix and doing my part to develop these young men and help set them up for success in all facets of their careers."
Kelly joined the Washington baseball staff as pitching coach in August of 2012, moving to the UW after having spent the previous six seasons developing a top-notching pitching staff at Cal Poly. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach at Washington in 2014.
His 2019 pitching staff accomplished a first in program history by having five different pitchers record 50 or more strikeouts. Josh Burgmann (101), Jordan Jones (79), Chris Micheles (76), Stevie Emanuels (65) and Jack Enger (61) formed one of the most intimidating staffs of Kelly's tenure. After the season, Burgmann (5th), Micheles (14th) and Jones (16th) all heard their named called in the top-20 rounds of the MLB Draft.
The 2018 pitching staff logged the second most innings among all Pac-12 hurlers, trailing only Oregon State, yet they put on an impressive display of control, issuing the fewest wild pitches, fewest hit batters and just one more walk than the lowest total by any other Conference staff. Under Kelly's direction, the Huskies were fourth in the Pac-12 with a 3.81 ERA.
Kelly also mentored a pair of All-Pac-12 performers in 2018, Joe DeMers and Alex Hardy. Kelly spear-headed the first-ever perfect game thrown by a Husky, calling an 84-pitch masterpiece by DeMers against UC Riverside. DeMers would go on to be selected in the 11th-round of the MLB Draft, yet another Kelly protege to hear their name called in the draft.
On the recruiting front, Kelly is a tireless worker who helped build several of the Huskies' best classes. The Huskies welcomed in a top-10 recruiting class in 2017 thanks to Kelly, many of whom made an immediate impact in 2017. Eight newcomers pitched for the Huskies in 2017 and helped UW rank fifth in the Pac-12 with a 3.92 ERA. Several veterans anchored the staff, namely All-Pac-12 performer Noah Bremer. Bremer (sixth round) and Greg Minier (32nd round) would go on to hear their names called in the 2017 MLB Draft.
In 2016, the Huskies were among the best in fewest walks allowed, ranking third in the Pac-12. The squad was full of inexperienced pitchers yet Kelly was able to establish the Huskies as one of the best staffs in the league, especially in the bullpen. At the backend of the bullpen was Troy Rallings, who was the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, a unanimous first team All-American and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He also was huge in the development of Spencer Jones, who was a 10th round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft.
In 2015, Kelly was key to another accomplished pitching staff. The 3.01 team ERA on the season was the second best in the Pac-12 conference. Senior starting pitcher Tyler Davis was named to the All-Pac-12 team for the second consecutive year and became the UW all-time leader in innings pitched (358 2/3). He was selected in the 23rd round of the MLB draft, along with pitcher Troy Rallings, taken in the 36th round.
Kelly also played an important role in recruiting a talented class of 2015, ranked 34th nationally by Perfect Game. Among the 14 players, Kelly helped land Joe DeMers, the 11th ranked right-handed pitcher in the nation.
In 2014, Kelly helped Washington to one of its most successful seasons ever. The Huskies (41-17, 21-9) reached their first NCAA post-season appearance in 10 years and finished second in the Pac-12 Conference race. It was the UW's best finish since 2004 and the 21 Conference wins were the second most since the north and south merged in 1999. The Huskies also achieved their highest national rankings in team history, reaching fifth in Baseball America, Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball.
The pitching staff played a huge role in Washington's 2014 success. The team ERA of 3.11 ranked third in the pitching-rich Pac-12 Conference and was the lowest by the Huskies since 1985. The Huskies also ranked second in the conference with 17 saves.
Kelly helped mentor and coach many players to break-out seasons in 2014. Davis emerged as one of the best pitchers in the nation, going 11-2 with a 1.60 ERA, earning All-Pac-12 Honors. Davis was a Golden Spikes Semifinalist, Dick Howser Award semifinalist and Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year watch list.
Another starting pitcher Jeff Brigham broke out under Kelly and earned honorable mention All-Conference honors and was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. In all, three pitchers were part of a school record eight players selected in the 2014 Draft.
In 2013, Kelly made an immediate impact at Washington, helping mold the Huskies' pitching staff that boasted a 3.88 ERA. One of the pitchers under his wings -- Austin Voth -- ended up third in the conference with 98 strikeouts and was drafted in the fifth round by the Nationals.
In 2012, Coach Kelly led the Cal Poly pitching staff to a stellar 3.48 earned run average, led by a pair of starters, Joey Wagman and Kyle Anderson. Wagman posted a 9-3 record and a 2.33 ERA with just 21 walks in 108.1 innings while Anderson was 10-1 with a 3-40 ERA, walking just 16 in 92.2 frames.
As a staff, Cal Poly pitchers surrendered just 155 bases on balls in 499 innings last season, good enough to rank No. 27 in the nation (out of 291 Division I teams) in walks per nine innings.
In 2011, under Kelly's direction, the Mustangs posted a team ERA of 3.60, with 152 walks in 460.1 innings. The 3.60 ERA was the best in Cal Poly's 17-year Division I existence to that point (and was bested by the 3.48 mark the following season).
In his first season at Cal Poly, he coached a pair of pitchers (Evan Reed and Thomas Eager) selected inside the first five rounds of the Major League Draft.
Kelly joined the Cal Poly staff as pitching coach in 2007. Before that, he'd spent two seasons at Chico State, helping the Wildcats to the Division II College World Series in each of those seasons.
The 2005 team finished the season 42-16-1 and the 2006 squad was 46-21 and finished as national runner-up. Kelly's 2005 Chico State pitching staff posted a 3.00 ERA, sixth-best in the country.
Prior to coaching at Chico State, Kelly spent one season (2004) working in baseball operations at Cal Poly and one season (2003) coaching at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. He also coached summer college teams from 2002-04, helping both the San Luis Obispo Blues and the Anchorage Bucs to the National Baseball Congress World Series.
Kelly was a pitcher at Cal Poly in 1999. After redshirting in 2000, he went on to pitch at Cuesta in 2001 and at Missouri Valley College in 2002, helping the Vikings to a regional title game appearance in 2002.
A 1998 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, Calif., Kelly and his wife, Tracy, are the parents of two children, daughter Peyton and son Cade.