Luke Kelly
American football player and coach
About Luke Kelly
Lived 1888 – 1952 (aged 63). Luke Kelly was an American military personnel and american football player.
Luke Leo Kelly (December 26, 1888 – February 6, 1952) was an American football player and coach who was the captain of the 1911 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and head coach of the Christian Brothers College and the College of the Holy Cross.
Career Kelly played tackle for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team from 1909 to 1911 and was captain of the team his senior year. On October 25, 1913, Kelly's team scored a school record 96 points in a 96–6 blowout of the Cape Girardeau Normal school.
In 1914, Kelly was to return to Notre Dame as the lead assistant under Jesse Harper, but before the season started, he took the head coaching job at Holy Cross to be closer to home. He stepped down after the 1916 season to focus on his law practice, but when his successor, Frank Cavanaugh, entered the United States Army, Kelly returned. Kelly also served in the U.S. Army during World War I.
Later life In 1924, Kelly married Grace Kelley of Roslindale. Their only child, Robert, was struck and killed by an automobile on January 1, 1952, at the age of 24.
Head coaching record
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Important facts
People in Luke Kelly's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Luke Kelly's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Luke Kelly?
American football player and coach (1888–1952)
When was Luke Kelly born?
Luke Kelly was born on 26 December 1888.
When did Luke Kelly die?
Luke Kelly died on 6 February 1952.
What was Luke Kelly's occupation?
Luke Kelly was a military personnel and american football player.
What nationality was Luke Kelly?
Luke Kelly was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Luke Kelly (American football)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Luke Kelly. https://biography.guide/luke-kelly-military-personnel/
MLA: "Luke Kelly." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/luke-kelly-military-personnel/.
Chicago: "Luke Kelly." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/luke-kelly-military-personnel/.
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