Fred Kelly, born in Charlottetown, PEI, had a profound effect on the sporting community at Acadia University from the moment he arrived at the valley school. The university has had a distinguished record in interscholastic play since 1927 when Kelly first appeared as the Axemen’s leader.

Kelly, as head of the Physical Education department, had tremendous success in directing the Axemen’s track and field squads in intercollegiate meets. He guided various teams to more than 50 Maritime and provincial intercollegiate championships in hockey, basketball, rugby, swimming and track and field. From 1928 to 1954, Acadia won the championship eighteen times, and, on six occasions during that span, the championship was not held due to the war years. Kelly also had great success guiding the English rugby teams, winning the Halifax City League championship six times, the Maritime Intercollegiate championship three times, and the historic McCurdy Cup once.

He also initiated an extensive swimming program, instructed gymnastics, assisted in the organization of the famed Acadia Relays, and coached Horton Academy to championships in hockey and rugby. He coached the Axemen to Maritime hockey titles in 1939, 1947, 1948 and 1949. He received an honorary degree from Acadia in 1967.