Rich Kelley
Encyclopedia
Richard Ryland Kelley (born March 23, 1953 in San Mateo, California
) is a retired American
basketball
player.
A center
/power forward
, a graduate of Woodside High School
, Kelley played college basketball
for Stanford
.
The 7-foot, 235-pound Kelley was drafted as an underclassman in the second round of the 1974 ABA
Draft by the New York Nets, but he opted to stay in college for another year. The following season Kelley was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz
in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft
and by the Memphis Sounds
in the second round of the 1975 ABA Draft.
In the NBA Kelley played for the New Orleans Jazz/Utah Jazz
(1975-79 and 1983-85), New Jersey Nets
(1979-80), Phoenix Suns
(1980-82), Denver Nuggets
(1982-83) and Sacramento Kings
(1985-86).
He helped the Suns win the 1980-81
NBA Pacific Division and the Jazz win the 1983-84
NBA Midwest Division.
He currently ranks 94th on the NBA's career offensive rebounds list (1,872).
In 11 seasons he played in 814 games and played 17,711 minutes, a 48.8 field goal percentage (2,166 for 4,435), 78.3 free throw percentage (1,867 for 2,384), 5,678 total rebounds (1,872 offensive, 3,806 defensive), 2,092 assists, 694 steals, 749 blocked shots, 2,613 personal fouls and 6,199 points.
He played for the US national team in the 1974 FIBA World Championship
, winning the bronze medal.
After retirement, he earned an MBA at Stanford. He is a co-founder of Search Fund Partners, having started the firm in 2004. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of San Francisco Legal, HemaSource, Verengo, H&R Accounts, Asset Recovery Corporation and Medical Positioning, Inc.
Rich has been involved in numerous small businesses and start-up companies as an operator, owner, and investor. His varied experience includes: CFO of Score Learning Centers, CEO of San Jose Giants, General Partner of the Stanford Terrace Inn, developer of houses and subdivisions, owner of office buildings, investor in successful tech start-ups (Coinstar, PLX Technology, Corcept Therapeutics). He has also invested in many limited partnerships, including venture funds, and has been involved as a search fund investor since 1994.
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
A center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
/power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
, a graduate of Woodside High School
Woodside High School (Woodside, California)
Woodside High School is an American public high school located in Woodside on the border with Redwood City, California. It is part of the Sequoia Union High School District. It has scored a perfect ten in California's similar-school rankings in 2009 and 2010....
, Kelley played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
.
The 7-foot, 235-pound Kelley was drafted as an underclassman in the second round of the 1974 ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
Draft by the New York Nets, but he opted to stay in college for another year. The following season Kelley was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft
1975 NBA Draft
The 1975 NBA Draft was the 29th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 29, 1975 before the 1975–76 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
and by the Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds was the final name of a franchise in the American Basketball Association. The team had begun as the New Orleans Buccaneers, and after three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it had occasionally played some home games in the past to reasonable crowds...
in the second round of the 1975 ABA Draft.
In the NBA Kelley played for the New Orleans Jazz/Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1975-79 and 1983-85), New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1979-80), Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(1980-82), Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
(1982-83) and Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(1985-86).
He helped the Suns win the 1980-81
1980-81 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers*Rookie of the Year: Darrell Griffith, Utah Jazz*Coach of the Year: Jack McKinney, Indiana Pacers*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
NBA Pacific Division and the Jazz win the 1983-84
1983-84 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets*Defensive Player of the Year: Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks...
NBA Midwest Division.
He currently ranks 94th on the NBA's career offensive rebounds list (1,872).
In 11 seasons he played in 814 games and played 17,711 minutes, a 48.8 field goal percentage (2,166 for 4,435), 78.3 free throw percentage (1,867 for 2,384), 5,678 total rebounds (1,872 offensive, 3,806 defensive), 2,092 assists, 694 steals, 749 blocked shots, 2,613 personal fouls and 6,199 points.
He played for the US national team in the 1974 FIBA World Championship
1974 FIBA World Championship
The 1974 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Puerto Rico from July 3 to 14, 1974.-Venues:- Competing nations :- Preliminary round :-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Classification round:-Final round:...
, winning the bronze medal.
After retirement, he earned an MBA at Stanford. He is a co-founder of Search Fund Partners, having started the firm in 2004. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of San Francisco Legal, HemaSource, Verengo, H&R Accounts, Asset Recovery Corporation and Medical Positioning, Inc.
Rich has been involved in numerous small businesses and start-up companies as an operator, owner, and investor. His varied experience includes: CFO of Score Learning Centers, CEO of San Jose Giants, General Partner of the Stanford Terrace Inn, developer of houses and subdivisions, owner of office buildings, investor in successful tech start-ups (Coinstar, PLX Technology, Corcept Therapeutics). He has also invested in many limited partnerships, including venture funds, and has been involved as a search fund investor since 1994.