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Lauren Kelly
Assistant Director of Sports Performance
Lauren Kelly was named the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Wake Forest University in September 2020 and will work with the student-athletes inside the women's soccer and track & field/cross country programs. A two-year letter-winning keeper for Murray State University's soccer program as an undergraduate, Kelly brings a wealth of championship experience to Winston-Salem after five years at the University of Cincinnati where she worked with women's soccer, track & field, women's tennis, and swimming & diving.
During her tenure in Cincinnati, Kelly's Bearcats enjoyed continued growth and success as she assisted the track & field team to new heights in the American Athletic Conference as well as the NCAA. On the national stage, Kelly worked with several outstanding individuals, including Annette Echikunwoke as the then-junior captured the 2017 NCAA Indoor Weight Throw crown, winning her first national title and the first - male or female - NCAA title in program history. Along with the national title, Kelly's student-athletes accumulated 22 USTFCCCA All-America accolades, four of which came with NCAA runner-up showings.
As a team, the Bearcats also were among the all-around top programs annually in the AAC, especially on the women's side as the Bearcats captured three team titles during Kelly's tenure. UC solidified several more firsts as the Bearcats won their first AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship in 2016 before winning their first AAC Indoor Track & Field Championship title in 2018. UC also was victorious at the 2017 outdoor meet while adding a pair of runner-up finishes on the indoor surfaces in both 2016 and 2017. All told, Kelly's Bearcats collected more than 40 AAC titles during her tenure.
Ahead of her time in Cincinnati, Kelly previously served as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (January 2014 to May 2015). At ULM, she worked directly with women’s basketball, women’s soccer, and women’s softball while also assisting with football. Kelly also completed internships at the University of Missouri, where she worked with football and women’s soccer, and Murray State, where she worked with all Olympic sports.
During her tenure in Cincinnati, Kelly's Bearcats enjoyed continued growth and success as she assisted the track & field team to new heights in the American Athletic Conference as well as the NCAA. On the national stage, Kelly worked with several outstanding individuals, including Annette Echikunwoke as the then-junior captured the 2017 NCAA Indoor Weight Throw crown, winning her first national title and the first - male or female - NCAA title in program history. Along with the national title, Kelly's student-athletes accumulated 22 USTFCCCA All-America accolades, four of which came with NCAA runner-up showings.
As a team, the Bearcats also were among the all-around top programs annually in the AAC, especially on the women's side as the Bearcats captured three team titles during Kelly's tenure. UC solidified several more firsts as the Bearcats won their first AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship in 2016 before winning their first AAC Indoor Track & Field Championship title in 2018. UC also was victorious at the 2017 outdoor meet while adding a pair of runner-up finishes on the indoor surfaces in both 2016 and 2017. All told, Kelly's Bearcats collected more than 40 AAC titles during her tenure.
Ahead of her time in Cincinnati, Kelly previously served as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (January 2014 to May 2015). At ULM, she worked directly with women’s basketball, women’s soccer, and women’s softball while also assisting with football. Kelly also completed internships at the University of Missouri, where she worked with football and women’s soccer, and Murray State, where she worked with all Olympic sports.
A 2013 graduate of Murray State with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Exercise Science, Kelly was a two-year member of the Racers' soccer program where she played goalkeeper. Following her time at MSU, Kelly earned her Master’s of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from ULM in May of 2015.
Kelly holds certifications from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (SCCC), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS), USA Track & Field (Level 1), and USTFCCA (Strength and Conditioning).