Today, Westminster University announced the hiring of Keely Carolan (’23) to lead its new climbing program as head coach. An alumna of Westminster and a leader in the climbing industry, Carolan will parlay her proven track record as a coach, program manager, and climbing instructor to head both the men’s and women’s climbing teams.
"As a leading member of Utah’s climbing community and a recent alumna, Keely’s commitment
to Westminster University and her experience with building and managing successful
climbing programs make her a valuable asset to the university community,” said Shelley
Jarrard, Associate Athletic Director. “Keely will be an integral leader in our expanding
Mountain Sports initiative, and we look forward to supporting her efforts in this role.”
“I’m so excited to come back to Westminster to coach the climbing team," added Carolan.
"Competitive climbing has been growing rapidly over the last five years, and I can’t
wait to be a part of developing the collegiate team at my alma mater.”
Westminster University recently announced an elevation of its Mountain Sports programs,
expanding its offering in varsity-level athletic teams in alpine skiing, freeskiing,
snowboarding, mountain biking, and climbing. Student-athletes in the Mountain Sports
program get access to expert coaching, scholarship support, and high-level competition
opportunities–all while receiving a world-class university education.
Before her appointment at Westminster, Carolan served as head coach at The Front Climbing Club, where she grew the team from 80 to over 120 athletes while substantially improving athlete retention. Carolan’s innovative junior intermediate program resulted in 20+ athletes remaining with the program for 4 years, showcasing her ability to empower and support athletes' long-term success.
Additionally at The Front Climbing Club, Carolan successfully conceived, developed, and implemented a Youth Access Scholarship Program, providing 100 underserved youth with their first climbing experiences and securing a $15 million RDA loan to expand the gym's facilities. This accomplishment demonstrates her strong leadership and project management abilities, coupled with her success in securing funding.
Carolan began her new role at the beginning of Westminster’s spring semester on Tuesday, January 21.
