25th Season at Illinois Central College
Alma mater: Western Illinois University ('99)
Morton native Brett Kelley is the all-time winningest baseball coach in Illinois Central College history, including eight seasons of 30 or more wins, and enters the 2025-26 athletic calendar in his 25th season with the Cougars. Kelley is a master at developing talent as he successfully moves players on to four-year schools and has elevated the Cougar program into a consistent winner in the rugged Midwest-Athletic Conference. He picked up his 500th career win on April 23, 2022 in a 9-1 win over Vincennes University.
In the spring of 2025, the Cougars suffered through an injury-plagued campaign as the season ended in the quarterfinals of the Region 24-A Tournament to Lewis & Clark. Seven players moved on to four-year schools, including: Nate Bartman (Ft. Lauderdale University), Jake Stewart (Mt. Mercy), Kaiser Quick (South Carolina-Beaufort), Chris Casey (Mt. Mercy), Thomas Krueger (Campbellsville), Broker Bailey (South Carolina Beaufort), and Caleb Diver (Wagler).
In 2024, the Cougars had to hit the road for the Region 24-C tournament but got a pair of wins over John Wood, whilst also avenging 2023's elimination by Lincoln Land, all in all capturing the 2024 Region 24-C Championship. The season would springboard into great success beyond ICC for the 2024 Cougars squad, with 14 players getting opportunities to play at the next level.
The 2023 season got off to a terrific start, with a Mississippi trip including a win over then #1-ranked Pearl River. The Cougars were able to get two four-game sweeps over Region 24 opposition during the regular season, and made the Semifinals of the Region Tournament before the season came to an end at the hands of Lincoln Land. And, despite injuries to several key players, Kelley led the 2022 Cougars to a top three finish at the Region 24 tournament as the Cougars finished with a 20-28 overall record.
Kelley began his collegiate coaching career in the fall of 2000 as the ICC pitching coach and strength and conditioning coordinator. In August of 2001, he was elevated to interim head coach and after the 2002 season was named the head boss. Just four years into his head coaching career in 2005, he led the Cougars to an M-WAC (then CCCI) regular season title while posting a 22-2 conference mark, earning him CCCI Coach of the Year honors. He also won the award in 2014, now the M-WAC, the same year ICC set a school record with 23 conference wins, which is the most in school history. During his tenure, Kelley has moved over 110 players on to four-year schools (including 74 players to Division I schools, 32 players to DII schools, 16 players to NAIA schools, and 12 players to DIII schools) and has coached 18 All-Region players, 4 NJCAA All-Americans, and has 3 players who are on current professional rosters.
Kelley was a two-sport athlete at Western Illinois University where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees. From 1994-97 he was a member of the Leatherneck football team and competed on two FCS playoff teams. He was also a member of the baseball squad from 1995-1999 where he served as team captain in his final two seasons.
In addition to his baseball duties, Coach Kelley is currently the Physical Education Program Coordinator at ICC. He is also a founding member of the prestigious Central Illinois Outlaw Baseball Club. Kelley resides in Washington.
Updated 08-24-25
