Kelly Allen begins his first season as the head golf coach at Savannah State University, bringing a strong background as a collegiate golfer, coach and advocate for growing the game of golf.
Allen joined Savannah State after spending two seasons at Edward Waters University, where he was tasked with restarting the Tigers’ women’s golf program. In that role, he helped lay the foundation for the program’s return while providing leadership and development for its student-athletes.
A Jacksonville, Florida native, Allen has deep roots in the game of golf. He attended Riverside High School, formerly Robert E. Lee High School, before continuing his playing career at fellow Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Benedict College.
Allen was a three-year letterwinner for the Benedict men’s golf program and earned All-SIAC honors twice during his collegiate career. He was also a member of Benedict’s 2015 SIAC Men’s Golf Championship team, giving him firsthand experience competing and succeeding at the championship level within the conference.
Beyond collegiate athletics, Allen has spent years working to introduce and develop young golfers through First Tee of North Florida. Through his involvement with the organization, he has helped serve a program that has reached more than 100,000 children throughout the Northeast Florida area.
Allen is also the founder and owner of Golf By Kelly, LLC, a golf brand created to bring an eccentric and contemporary style to the sport. His work through the brand reflects his passion for expanding golf’s reach and helping a new generation connect with the game.
At Savannah State, Allen is charged with leading the Tigers’ golf program while emphasizing student-athlete development, competitiveness, academic achievement and continued growth both on and off the course.
