Most of us start our day sometime between 6:00 and 7:00am waking up and getting ready for work.  For Head Rodeo Coach Tom Kelly, his day usually starts much earlier either feeding horses and livestock or general ranch work, a lot of the time before the sun comes up or before you have even had your first cup of coffee. 

Coach Kelly and his family live at the Odessa College Graham Center Ranch, located in Gardendale, TX, about a 20 minute drive from the OC campus. His job is anything but ordinary for the majority of the employees at Odessa College. We spend time at our desk, and Tom spends his time on horseback. None of this seems to bother him. 

Tom usually always has a smile on his face and a positive outlook on life.  He is a family man first and foremost. Tom and his wife Carrie have five kids of their own.  During the school year that family gets much bigger, with the arrival of the rodeo student athletes.  Coach Kelly stresses the "family" attitude for the entire OC Rodeo Team.

"Coach Kelly comes to work every day with a positive attitude and the desire to get better each day so he can make the student-athletes in the rodeo program better" said Athletic Director Wayne Baker.  "Tom bought in early to the system at Odessa College that creates a team atmosphere, from the college to the athletic department to the rodeo program. Additionally, his work with the rodeo community in Odessa, including the Sand Hills Rodeo has gained many friends for Odessa College.  I deeply appreciate his positive approach to student success."  

Q: What are you doing during COVID-19 to stay in touch with your student-athletes?
A: I have been calling our kids individually or message them on our team group chat every couple of days. It has been nice to be able to keep in touch with them all, even though we aren't all in Odessa.    

Q: How has COVID-19 changed your approach to coaching/recruiting for next year?
A: Recruiting has been a challenge without being able to physically bring the students to campus and the ranch to show them what we have to offer.  Odessa College has some of the best facilities in the NIRA Southwest Region.    

Q: Best Part of Your Job?
A: Seeing the kids succeed.  

Q: Do you have any hobbies or things you like to do away from work?
A: Train Horses and be a Grandpa, I have two grandsons that live in Wyoming. 

Q: If you could have dinner with 3 other people, dead or alive, who would they be? Why?
A: John Wayne - because he was just cool
A: My mom - unfinished business

Q: Something people don't know about you?
A: My Wife, Carrie, and I got married when I was 17.  We have five children and all of their names start with a T.  We've been married for 30 years.  

Q: What are some things you have learned as a Coach?
A: Be firm but fair

Q: If there was a movie made about your life, what actor would play you?
A: Tom Selleck or Yosemite Sam

Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways" - John Wayne

Q: If you could be any animal in the world, what would it be? 
A: A grizzly bear - We have the same disposition.  

Q: How has coaching changed from when you first started?
A: The development of youth rodeo and competitions has allowed for more opportunities for young rodeo athletes to compete more often.  When these kids arrive on campus, they are much more skilled and prepared for the college rodeo atmosphere.  

Q: What do you like about working at Odessa College?
A: The quality of people and how they care about their students