Kelly Bird

For more than three decades, Kelly Bird has been the storyteller, historian, creative force and a steady presence behind one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division III history.

Kelly Bird joined Linfield in August 1989, beginning a career that would span generations of student-athletes, coaches and championship teams. What began as a one-person operation has evolved into a nationally respected communications program, with Bird establishing a standard of excellence that helped elevate the profile of Linfield Athletics throughout the country.

During his tenure, Bird chronicled the 2004 NCAA Division III football national championship, softball national championships in 2007 and 2011, and the 2013 baseball national championship. He documented Linfield football's remarkable all-divisions-record streak of 70 consecutive winning seasons and has celebrated 104 Northwest Conference championship teams.

Bird produced 25 nationally award-winning athletic publications, including five recognized as the "Best in the Nation." He is a three-time recipient of the Northwest Conference's Jack Saurealt Award, recognizing the NWC's top communications program. In 2007, he was named Linfield Administrator of the Year.

Before joining Linfield, Bird spent 14 years as a sports-statistics editor at The Oregonian in Portland and worked five years as an announcer at KUIK radio in Hillsboro. He is a graduate of Portland Community College, where he majored in broadcasting.

In 2025, after 36 years as Linfield's SID, Bird transitioned into a new role as athletics marketing and events coordinator. He continues to contribute to Wildcat Athletics through sponsorship development, photography, game-day operations, and the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame.

In June 2026, he reached the pinnacle of his career with his induction into the CSC Hall of Fame. He became just the fourth Oregon athletic communications professional to receive the distinction.