Brian Kelly and his younger sister, Kimberly Kelly, share a close bond, though very little is known about her as she remains away from the media.
The former LSU coach, Brian Kelly, has spent years in the spotlight as a college football coach, leading teams at prestigious institutions like Notre Dame and LSU.
Born and raised in the working-class town of Chelsea, Massachusetts, the Kelly family grew up in a close Irish-Catholic home.
Their dad, Paul Kelly, worked in the oil business and served as an alderman in local politics. Their mom, Thelma Maitland, spent her career as a county mental health worker before retiring in Santa Barbara, California.
Although Paul and Thelma divorced, the family remained close, even after their seemingly happy family life began to deteriorate.
Through all ups and downs, the Kelly siblings got each other’s backs at all times.
Paul and Thelma have kids, Brian and Kimberly. The elder Kelly sibling, Brian, played football, basketball, and hockey, always dragging his sister along to watch or join in.
Kimberly recalled his playing style during his college days at Assumption in Worcester, saying:
He was like a Rudy-type linebacker.
Kimberly Kelly
Although not much is known about Kimberly, she has a daughter, Sarah Kelly, who grew up idolizing her uncle Brian.
As a teen in Santa Barbara, Sarah wrote a school essay about him for her entrance exam at Bishop Diego High School.
Sarah wrote:
He coached women’s softball, kept at it, and reached his dream job.
Sarah Kelly
This speaks volumes about how Brian’s drive in his career touched the entire family.
Kimberly lived near Santa Barbara with their mother, Thelma. They would take walks at Shoreline Park with Thelma’s Boston terrier, Patrick, chatting about the latest games.
When Brian took the Notre Dame job in 2010, Kimberly said how it pulled them all closer, saying:
He brought us together in a shared experience.
Kimberly Kelly
Later, his niece, Sarah, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 with a degree in English and gender studies.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Brian Kelly and his wife, Paqui, first crossed paths in the early 1990s at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
- The couple married on July 2, 1994, and have three kids: sons Patrick (oldest), Kenzel, and daughter Grace.
- Brian and Paqui filed for divorce in 2023; however, they quickly withdrew their petition and reconciled.
