John Kelling

John Arthur Kelling (born ) is an American college football coach. He is the associate head football coach and linebackers coach for Southern Utah University, positions he has held since 2022. He was the head football coach for Lock Haven University from 2020 to 2021. He also coached for Mankato State, Augustana (SD), North Dakota, Mary, and Frostburg State. He played college football for Mankato State as a safety.

Playing career Kelling was born in Rochester, Minnesota, and attended John Marshall High School. He played football, basketball, and track and field for the school. He did not play football with the intent to play at the collegiate level, instead hoping to play college basketball.

In 1988, Kelling ultimately enrolled at Mankato State University—now known as Minnesota State University, Mankato. He walked-on the football team as a safety, a position he did not play in high school. In his junior and senior year he earned first-team honors. As a senior, he became the first Mankato State player to be named to the Kodak All-America team. The diagnostic was discovered while working out at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, but was kept a secret from Kelling despite all NFL teams knowing.

Coaching career In 1992, Kelling began his coaching career a student assistant coach for his alma mater, Mankato State. He transitioned to a graduate assistant in 1994. In 1996, he was hired as the defensive backs coach and strength and conditioning coach for Augustana (SD). In 1999, he transitioned to wide receivers coach. In 2004, he left Augustana and was hired as the defensive backs coach for NCAA Division I-AA North Dakota. He remained with the team until 2011. In 2012, he was hired as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for Mary. In 2014, he was hired as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Frostburg State.

Kelling remained with the Bobcats for six seasons before he was hired as the head coach for Lock Haven University in 2020. The team did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19. In 2021, he led the team to an overall record of 1–10 in what turned out to be his lone season with the team. He was fired after the season.

In 2022, Kelling was hired as the associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach for Southern Utah.

Personal life During his college career, he worked as a bouncer at the Mankato Albatross Bar.

Head coaching record