Santa Monica College Head Coach Kelly Ledwith brings 15 years of college football coaching experience to Santa Monica College.  Nine of those seasons have been in California while at Fresno State, Fresno City College and California Lutheran University.

Coach Ledwith believes in preparing the student-athletes of Santa Monica for success in all areas of their life while here at SMC, “I take very seriously the fact that we are taking young student-athletes, many of which have always had their lives guided and structured by their own families, and becoming the faces that they see most on a day to day basis.  When we take on a role like that, it becomes our responsibility to help these student-athletes succeed both on and off the field.”

“I am extremely excited to lead this program.  Mr. Ellis has set this program up for great success by having an athletic department that provides our student-athletes with athletic academic advisors and a full strength and conditioning program that is run my Matt Hank and Nick Mosich working directly with the football program.   You could not ask for a better support network for a program than what Santa Monica College and Mr. Ellis have provided.”

Coach Ledwith joined the Santa Monica College football program in the spring of 2017 as the defensive coordinator after coaching at Western State Colorado University for 5 seasons.  After one year coaching the defensive backs Ledwith was promoted to defensive coordinator and the defense improved from the last ranked statistical defense to the top ranked defense in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  While at Western, Coach Ledwith coached over 15 all-conference players on the defensive side of the ball including two All-Americans, DL Lane Stuht and LB Jake Bernhard.  Stuht led all of NCAA DII football with 22 Tackles for loss including over 10 sacks.  Jake Bernhard led the conference with over 160 tackles in 10 games.

Prior to joining Western, Coach Ledwith coached at Fresno City College where he coached DBs and called the defense while helping coach the special teams as well.  After his second season at Fresno City all 6 sophomore defensive backs received scholarships from 4-year schools at NCAA and NAIA schools. 

While serving under the direction of Tony Caviglia at Fresno City College and Pat Hill at Fresno State, Coach Ledwith coached teams that went 5-2 in post season Bowl Games. 

Kelly and his wife Laura are the proud parents of two sons; Lochlon and Declan.

Education:

M.B.A. LSU – Shreveport 

B.A. Fresno State

Coaching History

SEASON: Team – Position

2017: Santa Monica College – Defensive Coordinator

2015: Western State Colorado University – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

2014: Western State Colorado University – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

2013: Western State Colorado University – Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs

2012: Western State Colorado University – Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs

2011: Western State Colorado University – Defensive Backs

2010: Fresno City College – Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs / Special Teams

2009: Fresno City College – Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs / Special Teams

2008: Fresno City College – Defensive Backs / Special Teams

2007: Fresno State – Graduate Assistant, Defense

2007: Wagner College – Graduate Assistant, Defensive Backs

2006: California Lutheran University – Defensive Backs

2005: Fresno State – Undergraduate Assistant, Defense

2004: Fresno State – Undergraduate Assistant, Defense

2003: Fresno State – Undergraduate Assistant, Defense