Smooth sailing

Julie Kelly works hard to plan and organize athletic events and tournaments so they go off without a hitch.

The grand opening of Panther Stadium on Sept. 4, 2015, and the 6A state basketball tournament in March 2015 are Kelly's career highlights.

Kelly of Siloam Springs has worked five years as athletics assistant for Siloam Springs School District and keeps all aspects of the athletic department running smoothly.

"I love my job so much," Kelly said. "I think I have the best job in the district."

She supports the athletic director, Kevin Downing, and works with 32 coaches from middle school to high school.

"I love getting to work with and support all of our coaches," Kelly said. "We have some of the best coaches in the state."

She started as athletics assistant when the high school opened at Progress Avenue and Tahlequah Street. She previously worked at the Allen Elementary library for two years before staying home to raise her children.

Former athletic director Kerwin Dees hired Kelly for her current position.

"I knew it was going to be a good fit," she said.

Downing and Kelly have worked together for three years.

"She's a big part of our athletic program for the district," Downing said. She's the "go-to person," and coaches like her.

As she continues to succeed in her role, Kelly's list of duties continues to expand.

She's responsible for booster clubs, athletics schedules for the district and community, monthly budgets, media requests, letter jackets, student awards, coaches' equipment orders and tickets.

She also books hotels for tournaments and organizes paperwork and physicals for 1,100 athletes.

Over the past four years, she's handled social media for the athletics department. She posts events, keeps up with game scores and updates fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter.

"Nothing is ever the same," she said.

And every three months a new sports season starts.

"The best thing is that when you go to a job every day that you love, it doesn't really feel like work," Kelly said. "I'm so thankful that I get to work for the Siloam Springs School District with so many people who value kids so much."

Kelly, a native of Purcell, Okla., moved to Siloam Springs after her husband, Jason, took a job as youth minister at First Baptist Church. He was youth minister for 10 years.

He recently accepted a job as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin, Mo., but the family plans to stay put.

Kelly and her husband have three children: Jackson, 19, Judson, 13 and Jensen, 12.

Kelly's favorite sport is basketball because she played it in high school and it's fast paced. She also loves volleyball and football.

Her children play the two previous sports.

She loves all sports, she said. "I love the people that coach them."

"There is also nothing better than getting to be a part of kids' lives and getting to be a part of their successes in athletics and at school."

In five years, Kelly hopes to still be working for the athletic department, she said. "My puzzle piece fits really good with Siloam Springs athletics."

And the athletic department is happy to have her, Downing said.

"She's one of the nicest people around," he said. "She wants to help in every way she can. She really loves her job."

In her free time, she works in youth ministry with her husband and mentors junior high and high school girls.

She and her husband have been involved in ministry for 20 years.