Chris Kellett, who coached the Appleton North boys basketball team to its first Fox Valley Association title and first WIAA state tournament appearance this past season, is leaving the program.
Kellett announced on social media May 11 that he is stepping down as Lightning coach to spend more time with his family. Kellett was Appleton North’s head coach for eight seasons and guided the Lightning to winning seasons in five of the past six years.
He was a standout high school athlete at Neenah and two-sport standout at Ripon College, where he played football and basketball. He was also the head coach at Shawano for two seasons and spent time as a collegiate coach at Lawrence University. Kellett was 118-88 at Appleton North and 153-103 overall.
“This decision to step away was not made because of a lack of appreciation or love for Appleton North,” Kellett wrote. “This program, the players, and this community mean a great deal to me. However, the time away from my family has taken a toll, and I feel it is important for me to be more present and invest in helping develop my own children. That priority has ultimately guided my decision.”
Kellett took over a North program that had gone winless in its previous season and had won just eight games in the previous four seasons prior to his arrival.
North finished with a 24-5 record this past season, shared the FVA title with Kaukauna with a 16-2 record and advanced to the state semifinals before losing to eventual Division 1 state champion Wisconsin Lutheran 68-61 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
The Lightning earned its first conference championship in its 31-season history when it beat Neenah 56-36 in the regular-season finale Feb. 26.
“Through determination, grit, and an unwavering commitment to one another, we transformed the program into a competitive force in the FVA,” Kellett wrote. “Together, we achieved milestones never before reached in North basketball – earning our first conference title and making our first trip to state. These accomplishments were no accident; they were the result of a group of young men who demanded the best of themselves and embraced the work required to succeed. I am incredibly proud of everything we achieved together.”
Kellett, who was voted FVA coach of the year this season, went on to thank everyone in the program for working together to make it a special season.
“Thank you to the players for their daily commitment, to the coaches for their support and leadership, to the families for standing with us, and to the fans for their unwavering encouragement through every high and low. This program will always hold a special place in my life, and I will carry these memories with me,” he wrote.
North had three first-team all-FVA players this past season in seniors Grant Hardy, Nathan Ramus and Will Sweeney. Sophomore Matt Rosplochowski made second-team all-FVA, and Ramus made the all-defensive team.
Hardy, Ramus and Sweeney all surpassed the 1,000-point marks for their careers this past season. They are among four players to have accomplished that feat in program history.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton North coach steps down after historic season
Reporting by Mike Sherry, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
