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June, 2009


Kelseys, McCluskey Chevrolet: An NKU and Summer League Institution

Pat Kelsey can still remember the time he “held” Nick Van Exel to about 43 points in a Deveroes Summer Basketball League game in the 1990s.

Kelsey, who was recently named Xavier’s associate head coach in mid-April, joked there weren’t many outstanding moments against Van Exel, a former UC Bearcat standout who played several years in the NBA, most notably with the Lakers. But, Kelsey did take some enjoyment from the matchup.

“I think he actually fell on a wet spot on the floor and slipped, but I liked to think it was my killer crossover when I made a 3-pointer (in front of him),” joked Kelsey a former Xavier point guard from 1996-98. “(Announcer) Jamal Walker went ‘ooh or ahhh’ and made some funny comment that everybody laughed about.”

        




Pat Kelsey

It was Walker who gave Kelsey’s nickname of Roadrunner and made the trademark cartoon noise when Kelsey pushed the ball up the floor.

Those summer league memories and anecdotes are still vivid for Kelsey, who returns to the Cincinnati area after being an assistant coach the past eight years at Wake Forest.

Despite Pat’s recent absence from Cincinnati, the Kelsey name has never gone far from the league. Pat’s father, Mike Kelsey, is the president of McCluskey Chevrolet, which has been a league sponsor since 1993.

Mike Kelsey believes his investment in the Deveroes Summer League is much more than a financial decision. The elder Kelsey believes it’s an investment in the Greater Cincinnati sports community and fans of college sports. Since about 1997, McCluskey Chevrolet has been the team name for Northern Kentucky University each summer in the league. Because of McCluskey Chevrolet, NKU has not had spend a dime on participation in the summer league.

“(The league) has been something we have always been involved with,” said Kelsey, a Green Township resident. “Our name is in the gym where toil and sweat takes place – I think it’s all good.”                                                                                                                              


NKU coach Dave Bezold said the league has given an opportunity for his players to compete against talented players from the likes of UC and XU.

“Over the years, our players have been on the same team and that gives them a chance to learn about each other as well as compete against great players,” Bezold said. “I really like the league and the way it is run, and it’s fun for area college basketball fans who can’t get enough hoops, even in the summer.”

The Kelseys are fans too. While always competitive on the basketball court, the Kelsey family enjoys the game of basketball in most any form from high school to the
NBA. “I think (basketball) is a big part of who we are,” Pat said.



The family has a strong tie to this area – especially from the West Side. Kelsey’s son, Mike Jr. (known as Walt), played at NKU, while daughter Katie (Cluxton) was a point guard who played at NKU after she graduated from Roger Bacon in 1995. Katie is married to former NKU standout Paul Cluxton, who played in college from 1993-97.

Pat, a point guard at Elder, graduated from high school in 1993. Walt was a shooting guard in high school and graduated from Elder in 2000. Walt’s college career highlights include a 50-point performance in a game against Indianapolis in 2004.




Katie Cluxton

While arguments could be had for members of the family and their competitive basketball nature, Pat said he is probably the most athletic and quickest basketball player of the siblings, while Walt is the most prolific scorer. Katie is the best player overall, according to Pat.

Pat said he and his siblings knew at an early age the role basketball would play in their lives during high school and college.

“We all kind of caught fever a bit; it became important to us,” Pat said.

Now, with Pat’s return home, the Kelsey family can once again take a short drive over to an XU game instead of a 6 ½ hour drive to North Carolina.



“We don’t know if he is back for a year or five years,” Mike Kelsey said. “(But) I know (our family) will enjoy for as long as it lasts. There are two peas in a pod – him and (XU coach) Chris (Mack). They love the game of basketball, the city of Cincinnati and love Xavier. They will work great together.”

      

Paul Cluxton

Pat Kelsey

• 33 years old at the time of his hiring at XU on April 27, 2009

• Earned the reputation of one of the nation’s top young talents in college basketball coaching during his eight seasons at Wake Forest. He coached under the late Skip Prosser and most recently under Wake head coach Dino Gaudio. “There is not a more conscientious, harder-working coach in America than Pat,” Gaudio said.

• Pat started his coaching career at Elder High School and was an assistant coach from 1998-2001.

• Played at XU from 1996-98 and helped the team reach two NCAA Tournament appearances. Was co-captain of 1997-98 team.

• 1998 graduate of Xavier with degree in business administration and marketing.

• Started college playing career in 1993-94 with Wyoming. Started 22 games as a freshman before he transferred back to Xavier.

• On coaching Chris Paul at Wake Forest: ””That kid has had something special. If Chris wanted to go into politics, he would be president of the United States. …He is one of the best point guards on the planet. As good of a player he is, he’s even a better person.”

Mike (Walt) Kelsey is seventh all-time in NKU history in scoring...He also holds the NKU single-game record of 50 points, which he scored on Jan. 2, 2004, against Indianapolis.

Katie Kelsey is NKU’s all-time career leader with 415 assists. She led NKU to the 1999 NCAA Division II Final Four and is now married to former NKU standout Paul Cluxton (see list...Cluxton is 10th on the NKU points list).

NORTHERN KENTUCKY INDIVIDUAL CAREER RECORDS

SCORING (CAREER)

Points
1. 2007 - Craig Sanders. (122 games) . 1998-02
2. 1980 - Brady Jackson. (105 games) . 1979-83
3. 1927 - Richard Derkson.(103 games) . 1971-75
4. 1920 - Dan Doellman. (103 games) . 1975-79
5. 1866 - LaRon Moore. (122 games) . 1993-97
6. 1664 - Derek Fields. (109 games) . 1985-89
7. 1595 - Mike Kelsey. (115 games) . 2001-05
8. 1533 - Shawn Scott . (111 games) . 1984-88
9. 1502 - Craig Conley. (124 games) . 1997-01
10. 1495 - Paul Cluxton. (122 games) . 1993-97