Western Michigan University and head men’s basketball coach Dwayne Stephens have announced the addition of Tyler Kelly to the program as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tyler and his family to Kalamazoo!” Coach Stephens said. “Tyler was very highly recommended during our national search. His Midwest background, along with his playing experience, including a national championship as a player, make him an exceptional asset to our program.”
Kelly comes to Western Michigan after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Niagara. This past year, the Purple Eagles were one of the best shooting teams in the MAAC, leading the way in field goal percentage (.450) and finishing second in three-point percentage (.353).
NU has also boasted the best bench unit in its conference each of the last two seasons, with its reserves ranking 23rd in all of NCAA Division I at 28.6 points per game in 2024-25. The 2023-24 campaign saw Ahmad Henderson II named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team, making him the first Niagara player to receive that honor since 2014-15.
In Kelly’s first year at NU, the program had its first winning season since 2017-18 and earned a trip to the MAAC Championship semifinals. He aided in the development of Noah Thomasson, who led the conference in scoring at 19.5 points per game on the way to All-MAAC First Team and NABC All-District First Team selections.
“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the staff at Western Michigan University,” Kelly said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Stephens and everything he and the staff have been building here the past three years. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and energy to help serve in any capacity needed to continue the momentum. I can’t wait to get to Kalamazoo and get started with the great staff and team!”
Before his time at Niagara, Kelly spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at Lincoln Memorial University. That year, LMU went 26-5, advanced to the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference Championship and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. Under his tutelage, four Railsplitters earned SAC All-Conference honors.
Before his time at LMU, Kelly spent a pair of seasons as the lead assistant at Le Moyne, where he oversaw player development and assisted with practice plans, scouting, recruiting and travel. In his first season with the Dolphins, they captured the Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division title and were the No. 1 seed for the 2020 NE10 Tournament. The program also made its fourth straight NCAA Division II East Regional Championship appearance.
Kelly began his coaching career at his alma mater, Florida Southern, during the 2015-16 campaign. He then moved on to Green Bay, where he was responsible for player management and program operations for the Phoenix from 2016-19.
As a player, Kelly was a four-year letterwinner at Florida Southern College, where he helped the team win three SSC regular season titles, four SSC Tournament titles and make four trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Moccasins made two Elite Eight appearances and compiled a program-record 36 wins on the way to capturing the 2015 national championship. He wrapped up his career at Florida Southern tied for second in career games played (131) and fourth in assists (498).
Kelly graduated from Florida Southern in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management.
https://wmubroncos.com/news/2025/7/7/mens-basketball-adds-tyler-kelly-to-coaching-staff.aspx
