Charles Kelly Position: Cornerbacks Coach Experience: 3rd Year Alma Mater: Auburn, 1990

Charles Kelly begins his third season at Georgia Tech and his first season as coach of the cornerbacks. Kelly served as the Yellow Jackets' special teams coordinator in 2006 and 2007.

Kelly, a former defensive coordinator at three different schools, developed Georgia Tech into one of the best special teams units in 2007. The group went from 119th in the nation in kick return defense in 2006 to second in 2007. Under Kelly's guidance, punter Durant Brooks and place-kicker Travis Bell each earned first team All-ACC accolades. Brooks earned the prestigious Ray Guy Award in 2007 and recorded the highest career punting average in ACC history.

In Kelly's first year, in 2006, Brooks earned second-team All-America and first-team All-ACC honors. With the combination of Brooks and outstanding coverage, Tech ranked second in the nation in net punting. Brooks averaged better than 45 yards per punt, and almost half of his kicks pinned the opponent inside the 20-yard line.

Kelly spent the previous four seasons at Nicholls State, an NCAA Division I-AA program that captured the Southland Conference title in 2005.

Under Kelly, who served as defensive backs coach during his first two seasons at Nicholls, the Colonels finished as the top-ranked defense in the Southland Conference in 2005 and 17th in NCAA Division I-AA. Nicholls led the Southland in total defense and rushing defense while ranking second in scoring defense.

Kelly was instrumental in developing two-time All-America cornerback Chris Thompson, who was drafted in 2004 by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kelly went to Nicholls State in 2002 from Eufaula (Ala.) High School, where he served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for two seasons. Prior to his move to the high school ranks, the Ozark, Ala., native spent one season (1999) as defensive coordinator at Henderson State and two seasons as defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State. His term as defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State culminated a five-year stay on the JSU staff (1994-98), and he also coordinated the offense and coached the defensive backs, running backs, quarterbacks and receivers over the course of his stay.

Before going to Jacksonville State, Kelly served one year as a graduate assistant at Auburn and was part of the Tigers' 11-0 season in 1993. He spent three seasons as an assistant football coach and baseball coach at Central High School in Phenix City, Ala. (1990-92).

Kelly has coached five players that have made it to the National Football League, including Thompson, Delvin Hugley, Calvin Jackson, Chris Schelling and Dell McGee.

A 1990 graduate of Auburn with a degree in Secondary Math Education, Kelly played defensive back under former Tiger coach Pat Dye. His senior class put together a four-year record of 39-7-2 while participating in four bowl games. In 2002, Kelly earned a master's degree in Education from Troy State.

Kelly, 40, and his wife, Kristy, have three daughters, Caroline, Kathleen and Charli Grace.