Saguaro fires Darius Kelly as head football coach after 3-7 season

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Scottsdale Saguaro football coach Darius Kelly will not be returning to the team, Kelly confirmed to The Arizona Republic on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Kelly was relieved of his duties, he said.

The Republic reached out to Saguaro athletic director Lucas Ackerson for comment, but did not receive a response.

Arizona Varsity’s Adam Beadle first reported the news.

Kelly, a former assistant under Zak Hill on the 2023 6A title-winning team, was the head coach for the last two seasons. The Sabercats compiled a 4-16 record during Kelly’s tenure with the team, including 3-7 this season.

Hill stepped down after the 2023 season and Kelly was hired as head coach. The program later took a downward turn, after allegations of racial bias led to an exodus of players from the program before Kelly’s first season in fall 2024.

“Moving in a new direction,” Kelly said he was told. “There’s a lot of factors behind that. It was a tough situation we walked into, losing 60 players and our expectations to be a 6A school, when we’re a 4A school, to try to turn it around in pretty much only one year. It’s a tough task, and I think it’s going to be a tough task for anybody moving forward.”

Saguaro lost an appeal last January to move down to 5A.

“But I do wish them the best, hope the best for the kids. I enjoyed my time there. It wasn’t easy, there was not one day that was easy, I can tell you that. I enjoyed the challenge and opportunity and working with all the great coaches.”

Saguaro won six straight titles from 2013 to 2018 under coach Jason Mohns, the last three in 4A. It lost to Chandler in the first Open Division title game in 2019, but won the Open in 2021 under Mohns. They again were runner-up in 2022. Saguaro is No. 3 all-time in Arizona Interscholastic Association history with 17 state titles.

The program’s recent success gradually caused the AIA to elevate the team into 6A against the biggest schools in the state. Mohns left for a job on Kenny Dillingham’s staff at Arizona State after the 2022 season and Hill took over.

Kelly said he would have stayed with the team if given the chance. 

“I think we just weren’t given enough time,” Kelly said. “Pretty much the story of our season, even with a lot of our games. We ran out of time in a lot of our games, ran out of time with our seniors and weren’t able to get the job done. Ultimately, it’s a results-driven business and a lot of people in this day and age want it right now.

“I know that the freshmen we had coming in and the coaches we had brought in were all in, so when the school decided to go in a new direction, I think it caught a lot of us by surprise because of the traction we had gained with (being) pretty much handed nothing.”

Kelly said he was still appreciative of his time with the Sabercats.

“I’m grateful for the guys who hired me, the admin that was there before was awesome,” Kelly said. “The kids are the ones who did all the work and I was just the guy who pushed them. I’m grateful for the past two seasons, the players and my coaching staff that stuck it out with me. Wish we had more time, but it is what it is. We’re moving forward.”

Kelly played football as a receiver and defensive back at Sierra Vista Buena High, where he graduated in 2011. He played multiple positions, including running back, at Pima Community College, before moving on to Syracuse to play his final two years in college at defensive back.

He began coaching at his high school alma mater, working with Joe Thomas. He coached defensive backs at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Kelly was the head coach at Tucson Catalina Foothills for two years. He was 7-5, including the shortened 2020 COVID year, when his team went 1-1. The Falcons went 4-8 during his tenure there, after replacing legendary coach Jeff Scurran.

As for what’s next, Kelly told The Republic he intends to keep coaching, whether it’s at the youth level, high school or beyond.

“I’m way too hungry to sit out,” Kelly said. “I just want to be around ball and make an impact in these kids’ lives, because ultimately that’s what I’m here for. I’m not here for any agendas, ego. I’m here for kids and to get them to the next level.”

Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saguaro fires head football coach Darius Kelly after 2 seasons

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