Chris Kellett, the longtime head coach of the Appleton North boys basketball team, revealed on social media on May 11 that he will step down after a season that will be remembered as a turning point for the program.
A Season of Firsts
Under Kellett’s guidance the Lightning captured their first ever conference championship, finished the regular season at 24‑5, and advanced to the state semifinals, where they fell to Division 1 champion Wisconsin Lutheran 68‑61 at the Kohl Center.
The run marked a dramatic reversal for a program that had been winless just a year earlier and had managed only eight victories in the four seasons before Kellett’s arrival.
Kellett took the opportunity to thank the players, their families, and the broader Appleton community, praising the dedication of the seniors Grant Hardy, Nathan Ramus and Will Sweeney and highlighting the emergence of sophomore Matt Rosplochowski, who earned second‑team all‑FVA honors.
He also noted that the decision was driven by a personal desire to be more present for his wife and children, a choice he said was made easier by the overwhelming support he received from the school and the city.