Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
- Email:
- ak2544@columbia.edu
- Phone:
- 212-854-2541
Aaron Kelton was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in July 2008 after serving as the defensive secondary coach for the past two seasons. He is given much of the credit for the secondary’s development into one of the Ivy League’s top units and for the development of free safety Tad Crawford ?07, a high draft choice of the Canadian Football League.
Kelton came to Columbia after five years on the staff at Virginia State, from 2001 through 2005, where he was the defensive coordinator, coaching the linebackers for four seasons and the secondary for one. The 2005 Trojan team held five of its 10 opponents to 14 or fewer points, while his 2004 defense collected 17 pass interceptions,18 quarterback sacks and forced 15 fumbles. He also was Virginia State’s recruiting coordinator and Pro Liaison.
Kelton coached at Concord College from 1999 to 2001, as defensive coordinator, defensive special teams coordinator, and recruiting coordinator, joining the Mountain Lions after one season each on the defensive staffs at Clarion and M.I.T. He had begun coaching shortly after his graduation from Springfield College, as a volunteer assistant at Boston College, followed by four years as an assistant at his alma mater, Wellesley (Mass.) High, and one year at Wayland (Mass.) High.
A native of Boston, Mass., Kelton was an all-state football player, and also played baseball and basketball, at Wellesley High. He earned four football letters at Springfield, starting two seasons at quarterback, before graduating in 1992 with a B.S. in psychology. He is working toward an M.Ed. in integrated studies from Virginia State.
Kelton received a prized NFL Internship during the past year, which enabled him to serve as a member of the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff in July and August, 2007. He also attended the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy in Miami in May 2006.
Kelton lives on Morningside Heights, near the Columbia campus. He has a daughter, Kelsi, 16.
Recruiting Areas
District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
