Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

After a career in coaching that made her one of the most successful team leaders in Northwest Nazarene's NCAA history, and two years serving NNU as Associate Athletic Director, Kelli Lindley was named Northwest Nazarene University’s Director of Athletics in March 2015 and begins her eighth year as the Nighthawks' A.D. in the 2022-23 academic year.

Since beginning her role as Director of Athletics, Lindley has made a significant impact on NNU Athletics, realizing first-time accomplishments in the athletic competition realm, unprecedented academic honors by student-athletes, and procurement of significant lead gifts for various projects. In addition, Lindley has established strong community engagement within the Treasure Valley, including the re-establishment of the Nighthawks Athletic Association. She also began a three-year term as a member of the Regional Advisory Committee for men's basketball during the 2020-21 academic year.
 
During Lindley's tenure, the men's basketball, baseball, softball, men's golf, and women's cross country teams have made the national tournament for the first time, the women's basketball team was ranked No. 1 in the country, the women's soccer team made the postseason for the first time, men's track and field had a national champion, and men's cross country had a national qualifier.

NNU saw three teams reach the NCAA postseason in the 2021-22 season, with women's basketball qualifying for the fourth time in the last five years and baseball and softball both reaching the West Regional for the second-straight season. NNU also had a national qualifier in men's track & field. 

Despite competition shortened to the spring, 2020-21 was a banner year for NNU Athletics, as men's basketball, baseball, softball, and men's golf all qualified for the NCAA postseason. The baseball program made it farther than any Nighthawks team has gone before, winning the West Region to advance to the DII National Championships. Men's basketball won two games in the regional to reach the Sweet 16, while softball won their first-ever NCAA postseason game at their regional. During the year, baseball was ranked as high as sixth nationally, men's basketball reached No. 13, and softball reached No. 25. Joe Schaefer (baseball) was named the GNAC and West Region Coach of the Year, while Rich Wagner (softball) was named the GNAC Coach of the Year. Also, in their shortened spring season, women's soccer achieved a perfect 11-0-0 campaign, finishing the year ranked sixth in the nation. 

During the 2019-20 school year, the women's cross country team finished second at the NCAA West Regional Championships, earning its first national meet appearance at the NCAA level. The men's cross country team also sent its first individual to an NCAA championship meet. The women's basketball team earned a third consecutive NCAA Division II berth, while the men's basketball team advanced to consecutive GNAC tournaments for the first time.

The 2017-18 school year was one of the most successful for the Nighthawks since moving up to Division II in 2002. The women's soccer team set records for wins in a season, conference wins in a season, shutouts in a season and head coach Mary Trigg was named GNAC coach of the year. The volleyball team advanced to the national tournament, reaching the second round for just the second time. The women's basketball team was the GNAC regular-season conference co-champions and reached the national tournament. The softball team was the GNAC regular-season conference co-champions, GNAC conference tournament champions and reached the national tournament. Payton Lewis and Ellie Logan each advanced to the outdoor national track and field championships, where Logan placed third in the javelin.

NNU student-athletes have reached new heights academically during Lindley’s time as Director of Athletics. The women's athletics teams won four consecutive GNAC Academic All-Sports Championships from 2014-2018. In the 2014-15 academic year, NNU achieved a first-time ever sweep of the GNAC Academic All-Sports Championship and both the Women’s and Men’s Academic All-Sports titles. In 2015-16, for the second consecutive year, Nighthawks student-athletes claimed the GNAC Academic All-Sports Championship, while NNU’s male teams claimed the Men’s Academic All-Sports title. 

While managing fund-raising efforts, Lindley has procured significant lead gifts for numerous projects, including donations from Brian and Nichole Bohner for the Brian and Nichole Bohner Track, Robb and Lori Warwick for new bleachers in the Johnson Sports Center, Roland and Bobby Halle for new bleachers at the Bobby Welch Halle Softball Field, Joe Harper in support of Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Martha Hopkins for the women’s locker room remodel and expansion project, and Jeff Kinneeveauk for the Tiny Bellamy Grandstand and the Gil Craker Pressbox at Elmore W. Vail Baseball Field. Current facility renovations underway include adding infield turf to the baseball field along with bleachers, a press box, and live streaming upgrades to the soccer field. 
 
Under Lindley’s leadership, NNU Athletics is committed to maintaining strong ties with the community. Those efforts include sponsoring Cross Country’s Roger Curran Memorial Run at West Park, NNU student-athletes volunteering in various capacities with Nampa KIDS Soccer, Nampa Babe Ruth Baseball, Nampa Middle School district track meets, Nampa Youth Basketball, and mentorship at area elementary schools. In support of charitable causes, NNU student-athletes have participated in numerous Breast Cancer Awareness, Come to the Table food bank, and Autism Awareness events, and have sponsored Special Olympics Friday Night Flag Football teams. During Lindley’s tenure, NNU teams have volunteered services at the Nazarene Church’s campgrounds at Trinity Pines, sponsored Church Nights at sporting events, and participated in numerous mission trips, including trips to Haiti, Kenya, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad.
 
Lindley is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

As NNU’s Head Women’s Basketball coach, Lindley compiled a 202-131 career record and led her team to postseason appearances in six of her 12 seasons, including NCAA Division II National Tournament bids in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2013. 

Lindley played collegiate basketball and received her Bachelor’s in Communication at Washington State University (WSU), where she lettered four times. She is in the record books at WSU for career 3-pointers made as well as being a Pac-10 Conference All-Academic Team selection three times. Lindley began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership in 2000. 

Kelli and her husband, Jeremy, live in Nampa with their two sons, Tanner and Colton.