Chip Kelly tested positive for COVID-19 in March

UCLA head coach Chip Kelly tested positive for COVID-19 in March. 

During the early stages of the pandemic there were various high-profile figures in the sports world who tested positive for coronavirus, such as Denver Nuggets center Rudy Gobert who was the first NBA player to test positive, causing the league to temporarily shut down the season. That was followed by Saints head coach Sean Payton who tested positive on March 19.

On Thursday night, it was revealed that UCLA head football coach Chip Kelly tested positive for coronavirus back in March as well, but it was not announced until recently.

People around the UCLA program say it was surprising that Kelly did contract the virus because he was following all the health and safety protocols instituted by public health officials and the NCAA, including social distancing, only going out for essentials, and wearing a mask.

Kelly’s wife tested positive as well and the two of them recovered at home seemingly without any major complications.

Kelly has used his positive test to make his players aware

Once Kelly contracted COVID-19, he did the smart thing and informed athletic department officials, his coaching staff, and his players along with their family members. The athletic department then decided that Kelly’s positive test result was not enough of a threat to force any sort of quarantine.

Although contracting a deadly virus is not something that most people would want to rehash, Kelly is using himself as an example for his players. Since Kelly contracted the virus despite taking a great deal of precautions, he is stressing to his squad that they must take the pandemic seriously and function with extreme caution.

The Bruins have already had their share of coronavirus-related problems with eight players testing positive when the team returned for workouts in late June, but none have tested positive since.

It is encouraging to see Kelly draw on his personal experience in order to educate his players, but it may all end up being for nothing as the 2020 college football season is still very much up in the air.