Kelly Mehrtens is a nationally respected sports executive and athlete transition strategist with over 30 years of experience in college athletics, professional sports, and athlete development. A proud member of the PAC Advisory Board, Kelly has dedicated her career to supporting athletes as they navigate the often complex path from peak competition to life beyond the game.
Most notably, Kelly served as the Executive Director of The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA), where she oversaw programming that directly supported former NFL players with health, career development, education, and financial wellness. Under her leadership, The Trust expanded its national footprint and delivered comprehensive services to thousands of transitioning athletes—earning widespread recognition as a gold standard for post-playing career support.
Before her work with The Trust, Kelly held senior athletic administration roles at UNC Wilmington, UC Berkeley, Notre Dame, University of Illinois, and Florida State University. As one of the few women to hold high-level positions in athletic departments across Power Five institutions, she’s been a trailblazer in advancing gender equity, leadership development, and student-athlete empowerment in collegiate sports.
A former All-American track and field athlete at the University of Alabama, Kelly has lived the athlete journey firsthand. Her unique blend of empathy, discipline, and executive experience allows her to connect with athletes at every level—from high school recruits to NFL veterans—guiding them through purpose-driven transitions with clarity and confidence.
At PAC, Kelly is a foundational leader helping to build the systems, partnerships, and programming that empower athletes not just to survive after sports—but to thrive.
Kelly continues to speak nationally on athlete transition, women in leadership, and wellness in sports. She is widely regarded as a servant leader and a mentor to dozens of rising professionals across the sports industry.