San Jose Resident Named Head Football Coach at Foothill College
Monta Vista High School Alum Now Helping Student-Athletes Transfer to Division One Universities

Foothill College in Los Altos Hills has named Kelly Edwards, 37, of San Jose, its new head football coach. He is the sixth head coach to lead the Owls in the college's 55-year history. A kinesiology and athletics instructor, Edwards has served as the Foothill Owls assistant coach and offensive coordinator since 2007. He took over interim head coaching duties after the Jan. 27, 2012, death of Foothill College Head Football Coach Doug Boyett.

"Doug Boyett did a great job of taking Foothill's program to the next level with Top 10 rankings and strong academic success. Maintaining these Foothill College traditions is important to us all, and I am confident that Kelly Edwards will continue that remarkable legacy," said Foothill College Kinesiology Division Dean & Athletics Director Susan Gutkind, Ph.D. "It's not just about being successful on the field, all of the state's community colleges are facing changes and challenges that we haven't necessarily seen before. The leadership of each of our programs, including the football program, must be able to provide top-level opportunities for our students regardless of ongoing challenges. Our values are unwavering--Foothill football is committed to transferring academically prepared student-athletes and playing competitive football in the toughest intercollegiate conference.

"I believe that Kelly has the right combination of experience and leadership to provide the energy and vision that will be required to keep the football program successful in the state's changing climate." Gutkind said. "The young men in our program understand that he cares about them enough to hold them accountable to academic and athletic standards. That's the core of the student-athlete experience."

A Monta Vista High School (Cupertino, CA) football standout, Edwards was an all state receiver and helped lead the Matadors to their one and only CIF Center Coast Section Championship in 1992. He then became a student at Foothill College, and played for the Owls as a wide receiver. Along with his teammates, Edwards contributed to the Foothill Owls ending the 1995 season 8-2, as well as capturing a berth on the nation's list of the top 20 teams at two-year colleges. While at Foothill, Edwards played under Head Coach Marshall Sperbeck, who will enter his sixth year as the Sacramento State head coach in 2012 (no coach in Sacramento State history has won more games overall or in conference in this first four seasons than Sperbeck).

Edwards then transferred and played the remainder of his college career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He holds a bachelor's degree from San Jose State University and a master's degree from National University.

Edwards traded his student-athlete's helmet for a coach's whistle when he began a part-time coaching assignment with the Foothill College Owls in 1997. For the first four years of his professional career, he coached Owls' wide receivers. In 2001, he was named head football coach at Leland High School in San Jose. Under his leadership, he took the Leland program from 0-10 to a Blossom Valley Athletic League (BVAL) title and a 9-1 finish.

In 2005, he returned to Foothill College to serve as the Owls' special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. When Doug Boyett was named head coach in 2007, Edwards took over as offensive coordinator.

With an overall record of 41-10 as the Owls play caller, Edwards has successfully transferred a student-athlete quarterback to Division 1 universities since 2007. Under his leadership as offensive coordinator, the Owls have twice finished in the top 10 in the nation and remained in the top 20 for four years.

A full-time assistant coach and physical education instructor at Foothill College since 2007, Edwards is the sixth coach to lead the Foothill Owls. Former head coaches include Bill Abbey, 1958-1975; Jim Fairchild, 1975-1985; Gene Scattini, 1985-1994; Marshall Sperbeck, 1994-2006; and Doug Boyett, 2007-2011.

The Owls have averaged 13 scholarships each season, earning a reputation among four-year universities as a place to find exceptional young men. In recent years, student-athletes from Foothill's football program have transferred to Boise State University; San Jose State University; Utah State University; Oregon State University; Western Carolina University; University of California, Davis; Oklahoma Panhandle State University; Old Dominion University; Delta State University; Faulkner University; Menlo College; University of Idaho; Indian University; Western Oregon University; Arkansas Tech University; University of Nevada; California State University, Fresno; Central Washington University; University of San Diego Louisiana Tech University; Angelo State University; and many other four-year universities.

Foothill College is a member of the Coast Conference and NorCal Football Conference of the California Community College Athletic Association. Foothill College men's intercollegiate teams compete in basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis and swimming, and women's intercollegiate teams compete in basketball, water polo, soccer, tennis, volleyball, softball and swimming. For more information, call the Foothill College Kinesiology & Athletics Division at (650) 949-7222.

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Coach Kelly Edwards
c/o Athletic Department
Foothill College
12345 El Monte Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA. 94022-4599
Phone: (650)949-7327
Kellyeds@yahoo.com