George Mason basketball adds Bucknell assistant Aaron Kelly to staff

Head men’s basketball coach Dave Paulsen announced that Aaron Kelly will join him on the Patriots bench as an assistant coach.

“I am thrilled that Aaron will be joining me at George Mason,” said Paulsen. “He has been an incredibly valuable member of my staff for seven years at Bucknell and is a rising star in the profession. He has been my recruiting coordinator with a heavy emphasis in the areas that will be primary recruiting targets for us at Mason. He is an excellent coach on the floor, and was instrumental in the development of Mike Muscala and Nana Foulland. Most important, he is a terrific mentor and role model for our student-athletes.”

Kelly follows coach Paulsen to Mason after recently completing his seventh year on the Bison’s men’s basketball staff, his sixth as an assistant coach after serving as the program’s manager of basketball operations in 2008-09. Prior to coming to Bucknell, Kelly was assistant coach under Paulsen at Williams in 2007-08.

Kelly was involved in all aspects of the Bison program, from recruiting to scouting to on-floor coaching and to summer camps. Kelly was an integral part of a coaching staff that led the Bison to an record three straight outright Patriot League regular-season titles, and amassing four in the last five years. Bucknell earned four postseason berths during that span—two NCAAs and two NITs.

Kelly served as Williams’ head junior varsity basketball coach in addition to his varsity duties in recruiting, scouting, player development, strength and conditioning and summer camp organization.

In 2006-07, Kelly was an assistant coach at Clarkson University, where he was part of a Golden Knights team that finished with a winning record (14-12).

Kelly is a 2006 graduate of Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He was a member of Cardinals teams that were consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally and produced a four-year record of 89-28. Kelly was elected team captain as a senior, and his team appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2003, 2004 and 2006. A Capital Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honoree, Kelly graduated with a degree in history.