Coach Lee Returns to Lead Football Team

By Todd Fuqua

It might have surprised some to see Kelley Lee (MS 03) returning to ENMU as the Greyhound head football coach. But for him, he was returning home.

Coach Lee speaks with the media and public at a press conference at Greyhound Arena in January.

Photo by Kemet Gatchell

“When you put your heart and soul into a program for nine years as offensive coordinator and head coach, it means a lot,” Kelley said. “I love the Greyhounds, and I love the community of Portales. I love this school. It was a blessing to have the opportunity to come back.”

Kelley returns to coaching the Hounds after a two-year period in which he coached high school ball at Veterans Early College High School in Brownsville, Texas, leading his teams to a 17-7 record. As Eastern’s coach from 2017–2020, the Greyhounds were 21-12 with a win in the Heritage Bowl over Southern Arkansas in 2019.

His decision to leave wasn’t easy, being motivated by the lockdowns occurring in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We left not so much for the coaching but to give my kids the opportunity to attend school in person and play sports,” Kelley said. “It was a decision I made for my family, and I think it was the right one then. I never thought we’d have the opportunity to return, and it just worked out.”

Kelley isn’t the only one returning to ENMU. He’s also brought in assistants Edgar Weiser (BS 00) and Oliver Soukup. Edgar played for Eastern from 1996–1999 and was part of a Lone Star Conference (LSC) championship team. He returns to Portales after coaching with fellow alum Charlie Ragle (BS 98) at Idaho State.

Edgar Weiser

Oliver Soukup

Oliver was an assistant at Eastern from 2012–2014, instrumental in creating solid defenses against LSC opponents.

There is also a core of Eastern students who played for or were recruited by Kelley.

That’s a big help, considering the coaching staff had only three weeks to recruit before national signing day in February.

“I’m asking the guys I knew from before to have meaningful conversations with the newer players, to get them to buy into what we’re trying to do with the program,” Kelley said. “I heard them yearning for the discipline and hard work we did before. That’s exciting.”

Kelley’s goal – indeed, the goal of any coach – is to win a conference title and get into the post-season. Given the changes in the LSC landscape with Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce moving up to Division I, he thinks the Hounds have an excellent shot.

“We were 16-4 against the teams we have left in the conference when I was coaching before,” he said. “We didn’t play Central Washington but beat Western Oregon twice. If we can return to where we were, we’re

in a great situation to challenge for that conference title and get into the playoffs.” Coaches are only as good as the players they lead, which is why Kelley is so pleased with the student-athletes at Eastern now.

“Our best resource is our student-athletes,” Kelley said. “We’re recruiting good kids who will do well on the field and in the classroom.”