A 1976 graduate of Framingham State College, Kelley was a four-year starter at defensive tackle for the Rams.  He returned to Framingham State in 1978 as an assistant football coach and assumed the head coaching job in 1982. Kelley served as head coach from 1982-1985 and returned to coaching again in 2001 as an assistant coach.  

After serving as the Athletic Director for over a decade, Kelley took back the reigns of the Rams football program in prior to the 2007 season. Tom stepped away briefly from coaching in January 2020 after 13 highly successful seasons at the helm but returned to the sidelines prior to the 2021 season. 

Kelley has a record of 125-71-1 as the Rams head football coach which includes an NEFC Championship, ten MASCAC Championships, six NCAA Tournament appearances and four bowl game victories.  In addition to the team success under Kelley, the Rams have had five players named All-American and multiple players play professionally, including former Rams standout Joshua Onujiogu who made his NFL debut with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. 

During Kelley's time at the helm, he has been recognized as a coach of the year nine times by five different organizations including in 2012 by the New England Football Writers when he was named as the NEFW Division II/III Coach of the Year.  Kelley has been tabbed as the MASCAC Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2018, 2021), the NEFC Bogan Division Coach of the Year (2012 & 2010), the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Coach of the Year (2011), and the Master Sports Coach of the Year (2010). In 2021 Kelley was the recipient of the Grinold Chapter's Ed Schluntz Contribution to Amateur Football Award and received the John Baronian Contribution to College Football from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.  

In 2009 Kelley received the Murray Lewis Award from the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Football Officials which recognizes an honoree for lifelong contribution to college football.  

Kelley holds a master's degree in psychology counseling from Boston State College and lives in Milford with his wife Jackie. 

Coaching Highlights 

• 2012 NEFC Championship 

• 10 MASCAC Championships (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 

• 6 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021) 

• 4 Bowl Game Victories (2010, 2014, 2016, 2017) 

• During Kelley's time at the helm, he has been recognized as a coach of the year nine times by five different organizations including in  

• 2010 Master Sports Coach of the Year  

• 2011 Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Coach of the Year  

• 2012 New England Football Writers Division II/III Coach of the Year.   

• Four-time MASCAC Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2018, 2021) 

• Two-time NEFC Bogan Division Coach of the Year (2012 & 2010) 

• Grinold Chapter's Ed Schluntz Contribution to Amateur Football recipient in 2022