Northwestern has hired veteran pitching coach Jason Kelly, bringing more than 20 years of collegiate experience and a track record of developing multiple MLB Draft picks to Ben Greenspan's coaching staff.
Northwestern baseball continues strengthening its coaching staff, announcing the hiring of veteran pitching coach Jason Kelly, who joins the Wildcats with more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience.
Kelly will serve as Northwestern's pitching coach after coaching at Texas A&M, Washington, LSU, Arizona State and Cal Poly. Throughout his career, he has helped develop many MLB Draft picks and over 20 all-conference pitchers, earning a reputation as one of college baseball's premier pitching coaches.
Northwestern head coach Ben Greenspan believes Kelly's experience and teaching ability make him an ideal addition to the program.
"Jason Kelly is universally regarded as one of the preeminent pitching coaches in the country," Greenspan said. "He has many years of high-level experience as an assistant and head coach, which will benefit our pitchers, position players and staff. JK has an incredible wealth of knowledge but more importantly, he is an exceptional teacher. I look forward to working with him and our program benefiting from his wisdom and experience."
ASU pitching coach Jason Kelly talks to his team and starting pitcher Justin Fall (23) during their game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium Tempe Feb 14, 2020. Asubaseball 021420 010Before joining Texas A&M, Kelly served as Washington's head coach, leading the Huskies to a 35-20 record and an NCAA Regional appearance during his first season in 2023 after the team had been projected to finish seventh in the Pac-12 preseason poll.
His resume also includes an award-winning run as an assistant coach. Kelly was named the 2018 D1Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year and helped coach Washington to its highest national ranking in program history. During his tenure, pitcher Troy Rallings earned Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year honors and unanimous First-Team All-America recognition.
Kelly said he is excited to join a Northwestern program that continues building momentum under Greenspan.
"My family and I are incredibly thankful and excited to be part of the Northwestern family!" Kelly said. "Coach Greenspan and his staff have proven that Northwestern baseball is on the rise. I can't wait to be part of it!"
The addition represents another important step in Northwestern's continued investment in baseball. Kelly's proven ability to develop professional-caliber pitchers and build successful staffs should provide an immediate boost both on the field and on the recruiting trail.
Kelly also arrives as Northwestern continues building momentum under Greenspan. Earlier this week, senior outfielder Jack Lausch was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round of the 2026 MLB Draft, while junior shortstop Ryan Kucherak was taken by the San Diego Padres in the 15th round.
Although neither player is a pitcher, Kelly's track record of developing professional talent allows Northwestern to continue expanding its presence in future MLB Drafts.
As the Wildcats continue building toward sustained success in the Big Ten, adding one of the nation's most accomplished pitching coaches signals the program's commitment to competing at the highest level.
