Establish athletics as an integral part of student development through a culture of competitive excellence, that is Kingdom centered, principle driven, and people focused,
Coram Deo Academy is committed to the continued development of students outside the home and classroom. The lessons learned around the dinner table, discovered through biblical readings, and taught in the classroom need an extended platform for full development.
The challenges and conflicts provided by athletics provide that platform. Our programs are designed to assist in the development of character and integrity in our students. These traits are encouraged and developed in a safe environment with like-minded coaches who support parental authority.
Our athletic philosophy is principle driven, development purposed, and effort rewarded. We believe the practice of biblical principles will create the discipline needed to live a successful life for Christ. We believe the combination of academic and athletic programs provides an effective tool in the development of a well-rounded person.
Ashley Kelly joined CDA in 2020 as the newly appointed District Athletic Director. Ashley is a proud Ohio native. She was an honors student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she graduated Cum Lade in 2006 with a degree in Public Relations & Sports Administration. Ashley always felt called to work in athletics, and after exploring careers working with professional teams such as the (WNBA) Washington Mystics and (NBA) Washington Wizards, she resorted back to her original love of coaching. Coach Kelly began coaching her freshman year of college at a local high school and has yet to stop. She believes deeply in the power of athletics to bring God’s word to life.
Ashley began working at The Cambridge School of Dallas in 2011. Under her leadership as Athletic Director and coaching at Cambridge, over ten state championships were accrued, but she asserts that her biggest accomplishment are the Christian leaders produced from the athletic department. Her love of coaching has led her to coach a multitude of sports ranging from her first love, track & field, to cross country, basketball and volleyball. She currently holds a Level 1 United States Track & Field coaching certification.
Ashley has served as a multi-year district president for four sports and coordinated/hosted over six district track and cross country championships. Since 2018, Ashley has served as a member of the Texas Association of Private & Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Athletic Executive Committee. This nine person committee is responsible for reviewing athletic policies and by-laws, advising on policy impact and financial implications, as well as other tasks such as helping to establish the annual athletic calendar for TAPPS.
Ashley is married to Kyle Kelly and they have three wonderful children who are students at the CDA Dallas Campus. They are active members at One Community Church.
Mr. Joshua Nokes
Campus Athletic Director / Football & Softball Program Director - CC
Josh Nokes joined Coram Deo in 2018 by way of Savannah, GA, where he served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Savannah Christian Preparatory School. Additionally, he coached football and wrestling while teaching Advanced Placement United States History, and oversaw the consolidation and integration of the middle school athletic program within the SCPS Athletic Department. During his time there, the school had the highest ranking athletic department in Savannah.
Josh is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Secondary Education and a Masters in Business Administration. After college, Josh spent several years in discipleship ministry with K-Life Ministries in Fort Worth before beginning his teaching career in Carrollton. At Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, he developed an Advanced Placement American History program that saw a pass rate increase from 5% to 82% while also working as an assistant football coach with the team who made two state championship appearances and as head coach to the softball team who appeared in the semifinals. At The Covenant School of Dallas, he was the Athletic and Facilities Coordinator and was charged with preparing the football program to move from 6-man to 11-man football. In 2013, he had the privilege of being a part of the staff that won the TAPPS state championship in 6-man football. In addition, he served as the head baseball coach at Covenant, taking the team to the playoffs in his final year at the school.
Outside of a love of sports and developing young men and women for Christ, Josh is passionate about spending time with his wife, Jessica, and their young team of boys: Beckett, Tate, Archer, Wilder and Silas. Other interests include cycling, reading, fly fishing, the great outdoors and working in newly/nearly married ministries through Watermark Community Church.
Drew Lott joined CDA in 2019 as Head Baseball Coach and is now the Dallas Campus Director of Athletics, Facilities Manager, and the Flower Mound Head Baseball Coach.
Drew was born in Portland, OR and raised in Tacoma, WA and Lynden, WA where he graduated from Lynden High School. Drew then went on to attend Trinity Western University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Human Kinetics and History. He earned his Texas Educators Certificate from Region 10. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Drew Lott has coached successful club baseball since 2000. He has coached high school baseball at Lynden High School, Nooksack High School, and The Covenant School Dallas. He has coached at the collegiate level with Athletes in Action (NYCBL) and Mid America Nazarene University (NAIA).
Drew sees coaching as a platform for discipleship in the gospel by incorporating prayer and devotional times with each team he coaches. He enjoys teaching athletes how to commit to a team and become a great teammate, how to embrace the hard work required for skill development, and ways to master the mental side of sports.
Drew and his wife, Laura, have two young children. The oldest will attend Coram Deo Academy in the fall of 2019. His family worships and serves at Mosaic Church in Richardson, TX.
Mr. Sean Riley
Campus Athletic Director / Football Program Director - FM
Coach Riley is joining Coram Deo Academy after serving as a professor of sports management and the Associate Head Football Coach, Offensive Analyst, Recruiting, and Special Teams Coordinator for the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) football team. Additionally, he serves as a position coach and camp counselor at the Dallas Cowboys Football Academy and the Special Teams Coordinator for the Blue-Grey All-American bowl game each year at AT&T Stadium the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Before his roles at SAGU, he worked at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, TX, for over ten years going to four TAPPS football state championships winning two. Coach Riley experienced unprecedented success in sending student-athletes to college on scholarships. He served in multiple positions, including Upper School Assistant Principal, Junior High School Principal, Sports Psychology Instructor, Football, and Soccer Coach (the winningest soccer coach in school history). He played professional football at various levels for over a decade.
His professional business experience includes serving as a managing director, consulting, and starting several multi-million dollar businesses. He has extensive experience in sales management, employee development, and revenue optimization.
Coach Riley is a United States Navy veteran and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management, Psychology, and Religion, as well as his Master of Science in Sports Administration. He recently entered the dissertation phase for his Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership, all with honors from Liberty University. He enjoys spending time with his wife Heather of twenty-three years who is an elementary school teacher at Village Tech in Duncanville and their three boys Cory (24), Dylan (21), and Sean II (14).