The Redskins have promoted Larry Hess to the position of head athletic trainer and named Paul Kelly to the position of assistant to the head coach/football administration.
Hess enters his ninth season with the Redskins and his first as the team's head athletic trainer. He spent the last four seasons as the Redskins' Director of Rehabilitation (2006-09) after originally joining the club as physical therapist/assistant athletic trainer (2002-05).
During his tenure with the Redskins, Hess' has directed and implemented the team's rehabilitation program, ensuring athletes' healthy return to the playing field and preventing future injury.
Hess originally entered the NFL with the Miami Dolphins in 1998 as a training camp intern. He spent three seasons working with the Dolphins during training camp, mini-camps and on game days. He also served as the head athletic trainer at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, Fla.
A native of Pittsburgh, Hess earned his bachelor's degree in life science in 1998 and his master's degree in physical therapy in 2001, both from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Hess is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
He replaces John Burrell as the Redskins' head athletic trainer. Burrell is no longer with the team.
Kelly enters his 12th NFL season and his first with the Redskins. He previously spent five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004-08) and six seasons with the Oakland Raiders (1998-2003).
In his five seasons with the Buccaneers, Kelly worked directly with head coach Jon Gruden in organizing football operations for the club and was involved in many of the day-to-day operations of the team.
Kelly's responsibilities included assisting in football operations, overseeing player and staff communications with the head coach and managing the football calendar, which included the offseason program, mini-camp and training camp schedule.
During the 2007 season, Kelly helped Gruden prepare an offensive game plan that produced 324 points for Tampa Bay, the fourth-highest total in team history and a rushing attack that averaged 4.17 yards per carry, the second-highest mark in team annuals.
Kelly was a member of the Buccaneers' staff that captured NFC South titles in 2005 and 2007.
In his six seasons with the Raiders, Kelly spent his last two seasons (2002-03) as the assistant to the head coach. In 2002, he helped head coach Bill Callahan guide Oakland to its first Super Bowl appearance in 19 years as the Raiders represented the AFC in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Kelly spent his first four seasons (1998-2001) with the Raiders as a coaches assistant. Prior to joining the Raiders, he owned and managed his own San Francisco Bay Area-based business.
Kelly graduated with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in new ventures and small business management from California State University-Hayward in 1990.
