Arch Jelley: key obituary facts
Is Arch Jelley dead? Yes. Arch Jelley died on October 24, 2026, at age 104.
Cause of death: Arch Jelley's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Arch Jelley known for?
He was a New Zealand athletics coach.
More about Arch Jelley
Born: 13 August 1922.
Place of birth: Dunedin.
Gender: male.
Occupation: track and field coach.
Nationality: New Zealand.
Education: Dunedin Teachers' Training College.
Awards: Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Father: Albert Jelley.
Also known as: Archibald Jelley, Albert Archibald Jelley.
Years active: 1957–2018.
Known for: Athletics coaching.
Arch Jelley, a New Zealand Hall of Fame athletics coach, died October 24, 2026, aged 104.
Born Albert Archibald Jelley in Dunedin on August 13, 1922, he trained at Dunedin Teachers’ Training College and worked as a teacher alongside his coaching, athletics administration and bridge tutoring. Active as a coach from 1957 to 2018, he coached leading New Zealand runners John Walker and Hamish Carson and continued coaching at Olympic level into his mid-90s.
His honors included appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1982 New Year Honours for services to athletics, and an International Amateur Athletic Federation Diploma in 1987. He was one of four coaches inducted into the New Zealand Coaches Hall of Fame, alongside Arthur Lydiard. Later recognition included a Sparc lifetime achievement award for coaching excellence in 2007 and an Athletics New Zealand merit award in 2009. Jelley was also a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. His career joined coaching with teaching and administration, and extended from athletics coaching to work at Olympic level.