Laurie Kelly Inducted Into Rochester Quarterbacks Club Hall of Fame

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Northern Arizona women’s basketball coach Laurie Kelly flew home to Minnesota last weekend to be recognized with a great honor from her hometown- induction into the Rochester Quarterbacks Club Hall of Fame.

More than 350 people were in attendance on April 20 at the Mayo Civic Center as Kelly and three others were inducted as the 2009 class. The Hall of Fame was started in 1991 and now totals 77 members.

Kelly graduated from John Marshall High School in Rochester in 1989 after leading her team to a 43-3 mark in her final two seasons. She went on to be a three-time All-America selection at Division III St. Thomas, led her team to a national title in 1991 and was the Division III Player of the Year in 1993. She scored 2,607 points and recorded 1,204 rebounds in her collegiate career, and three years ago was named to the NCAA Division III 25th Anniversary Team.

Two of Kelly’s three fellow inductees are also in the coaching profession. Kelly, who has been NAU’s coach for six years, is nearing the 200-win mark in her career. In 2006 the Lumberjacks went 22-11 and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth after winning their first-ever Big Sky Conference Tournament.

Kelly gives credit to all those who have supported her along the way in her playing and coaching careers, telling the Rochester Post-Bulletin, “It truly takes so many people to help you succeed.” Having found her calling, Kelly advises, “find something that you love, and if they pay you for it, it’s a bonus.”