Brehan Kelley's path to becoming the head coach of PennWest Clarion’s swimming and diving program was shaped by a pivotal decision in her own athletic career. Growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania, she was a high school athlete with her sights set on state schools closer to home. But when Clarion's coach reached out, a visit to campus during finals week in April changed everything. The campus felt different from her busy, inner-city upbringing; she loved the slow pace, the intimate class sizes, and the student-teacher ratio. The final push came when the coach said, "do you want to come be a part of something pretty special? We want to win a championship here." This challenge sold her, and she came to Clarion, helping the team win two championships.

After a brief time as a teacher post-graduation, she realized her true passion was helping others in an athletic setting. An opportunity to become a graduate assistant at Duquesne led to a call from Clarion the following year, and she hasn't looked back since. Now a two-time PSAC Swimming Coach of the Year, Coach Kelley says, "I love where I am, what I get to do with the students here, but it's the people that sells this place." This sense of community and the small, family-oriented environment is what she strives to create for her student-athletes.

Being an alumna herself gives her a special kind of pride that she believes sets her apart. "It's a different sense of pride you feel when you walk into the building every day," she explains. This deep connection to the university fuels her and her coaching staff's energy, pushing them to get the most out of their athletes. She remembers the feeling of her own senior swim at D2 nationals in Indianapolis, a race she swam with pure passion and "no regrets," and she compares that feeling to watching her athletes succeed.

She recalls watching Luna Castellanos win a national championship and being overcome with "literally in goosebumps and tears," knowing all the work Luna put in. She sees her role as helping her athletes achieve their goals, just as her own coaches helped her. Coach Kelley is incredibly optimistic about the future of her team, with a strong returning class and talented freshmen creating a competitive dynamic that she believes will help them move up in the rankings.

Brehan Kelley's journey back to PennWest Clarion as a coach is a testament to the practicality and empowerment that the university provides. Her story shows how a purposeful education can lead to a career that not only fulfills a passion but also allows you to give back to the institution that shaped you.