Kelton Selected as Head Coach for Football at Williams
Courtesy Williams Sports Information
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Williams College Athletic Director Harry Sheehy announced today that Aaron Kelton has been named the Ephs’ head football coach, succeeding Mike Whalen who left Williams to return to coach his alma mater Wesleyan University.
Kelton comes to Williams from Columbia University, where he has served as the Lions defensive coordinator for the last two seasons after having served the two previous seasons as secondary coach.
"I'm thrilled that Aaron and his wife Charlotte will be joining the Williams athletic family and college community," said Sheehy. "The search committee was impressed with Aaron's energy and passion for teaching the game of football to young men, and this passion resonated with people on our campus throughout the process. He'll be a tireless teacher, coach, and recruiter. Current and future Eph football players will be inspired and challenged to reach for their potential under Aaron's tutelage. It's with much enthusiasm that we call on him to carry forward the great tradition that is Williams football."
That tradition was a key attraction for Kelton. "I'm ecstatic to have this opportunity to carry on the great tradition of Williams football and work on building it to the level it should be at each year," Kelton said. "As the head coach it will be my job to assist in all phases of the football team, from offense to defense to special teams. I'll work with the defensive backs but will not be the offensive or defensive coordinator. My job is to lead the team and build the program.
"I plan to make some day trips until I can finish up at Columbia, but Charlotte and I are very excited to be joining the Williams family and living in Williamstown. Everyone we've met has been so warm and welcoming. This is exciting."
Kelton inherits a Williams team that is coming off a 6-2 season and will return 18 of 22 starters, including 6 of 11 that earned All-NESCAC honors in 2009. The Ephs-will open the 2010 season at home on September 25th vs. Bowdoin. The season ending Little Three games vs. Wesleyan and Amherst will close out Kelton's first campaign in November. Mike Whalen's Wesleyan team will be the Homecoming tilt on Weston Field on November 6 and the traditional season finale - "The Biggest Little Game in America" - will be played at Amherst on November 13.
Under Kelton the Columbia Lions fielded one of the Ivy League's top defensive backfields. Kelton developed DB Tad Crawford '07, who was a high draft choice in the Canadian Football League. In addition to his on field duties at Columbia, Kelton was the Lions' recruiting coordinator in the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
A native of Massachusetts, Kelton was born in Boston and graduated from Wellesley [MA] High School, where he was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated from Springfield College in 1992 with a B.S. in psychology and lettered all four years for the Pride in football, starting two years at quarterback.
Kelton received prized NFL Summer Internships, which enabled him to serve as a member of the coaching staff of the Indianapolis Colts in 2007, Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008, and the Arizona Cardinals in 2009. He also attended the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy in Miami in May 2006.
Kelton is currently working on completing an M.Ed. in integrated studies from Virginia State.
