Chip Kelly, an American football coach currently serving as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, hid his wife, Jennifer Jenkins, from the public eye for years.
The Ohio State coach is not just popular for his coaching skills but also for keeping his life private.
For years, many believed Chip had never tied the knot until his former wife, Jennifer, talked about their relationship with Kent Babb of the Washington Post in 2015.
Happy 51st birthday to @Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. pic.twitter.com/bEQOgfBDz9
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 25, 2014
His former wife, Jennifer, revealed that she first met Chip in New Hampshire.
Jenkins was a senior at New Hampshire when a friend introduced her to Kelly on Thanksgiving day in 1989. She also revealed that Kelly was shy, but when he spoke, his words were thoughtful and energetic, and they talked for hours.
The couple kept seeing each other; Jenkins stayed in New Hampshire when Kelly took his first college coaching job in 1990, working with the defense and special teams at Columbia University. However, after two seasons, he returned home.
Despite being in a long-distance relationship, Jennifer and Kelly stuck together and tied the knot in 1992 in front of about 250 guests.
Though the couple were happily married for years, Kelly never officially introduced Jennifer as his wife.
Jennifer said it used to hurt her when articles described Chip Kelly as a bachelor coach. She felt as if seven years of her life had been washed away.
She even saved a wedding photo on her iPhone and took it everywhere to prove she was Kelly’s wife.
The couple drifted apart when Kelly kept moving for his coaching career while Jenkins stayed in New Hampshire.
Kelly and Jenkins eventually divorced in 1999 after seven years of being in a marital relationship.
Chip Kelly’s Former Wife, Jennifer Jenkins, Ran Her Own Company for Over Five Years!
Though Jennifer was unsuccessful in her marriage, she was successful in her professional endeavors.
Earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Hampshire, she began her career as an associate director and financial aid in her alma mater.
Moreover, she became the executive director of the college board in 1997 and held a position for over 14 years before becoming the managing partner of JJenkins, LLC in 2011.
Jennifer also worked in several nonprofit organizations; she was the director of state government relations at Save the Children Action Network and the project director at Jefferson Education Accelerator.
After a long career in the non-profit organization, Jennifer started her own company; she established MommaLu Remedies in 2014, which sells care packages for sick people.
Furthermore, after running her own business for over five years, Jennifer currently serves as program manager at CBRE Global Workplace Solutions, and she has been holding the position since 2019.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Chip Kelly was born Charles Edward Kelly on November 25, 1963, in Dover, New Hampshire, United States.
- Chip sparked dating rumors with Jill Cohen in 2018 but never officially admitted it.
- He attended Manchester Central High School, where he played ice hockey and basketball.
- Kelly earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from the University of New Hampshire in 1990, where he played defensive back.
- He has won several honorable titles, including three Pac-12, two Pac-12 North Division and NFC East Division.
