Who Is Mary Lou Retton’s Ex-Husband? All About Shannon Kelley

Mary Lou Retton was married to Shannon Kelley for nearly three decades before they separated in 2018.

The Olympian married Kelley in 1990 after they met the year before. In the years that followed, she and Kelley, a former college quarterback and businessman, had four daughters together: McKenna, Shayla, Skyla and Emma.

However, after 27 years of marriage, Retton revealed that the couple divorced while she was there Dancing with the stars. She said they quietly parted ways, not telling many other than family and close friends.

“People close to me obviously knew, but not a lot of people knew,” she told PEOPLE. “I don’t think the ex told anyone, but that’s just coming from me — that could be wrong. Many were surprised.”

She added that although the split was difficult, she is ready for the next chapter of her life.

“I’m on a good path and I’m happy with my life,” Retton said. “I’m really excited about what this new chapter will bring instead of being the scared person I was a few months ago. I really did a complete turnaround.”

In October 2023, Retton’s daughter McKenna announced that her mother had been in hospital for over a week with a rare form of pneumonia and was “fighting for her life” in intensive care. She was released later that month, although McKenna noted that her mother had a “long road to recovery” ahead of her.

During the interview in January 2024 at Today Show, Retton shared an update on her recovery while on a ventilator, admitting she is still in a “vulnerable state” months after being released from hospital.

“I’m so grateful to be here. I’m blessed to be here, because there was a time when they wanted to put me on life support,” she said.

Despite the split, Retton and Kelley have been supportive of each other, especially when it comes to co-parenting their girls. The gold medalist previously opened up about the close family bond with PEOPLE, explaining that while she and Kelley are no longer together, they remain friendly.

“It’s something that really took a long time to happen,” she said of their divorce. “We still love each other, but we weren’t good together anymore.”

So who is Mary Lou Retton’s ex-husband? Here’s everything you need to know about Shannon Kelley and his relationship with the former gymnast.

He was a quarterback at the University of Texas at Austin

Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelley at the premiere of Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult on March 16, 1994 in Los Angeles.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Collection of Ron Galella via Getty

After enrolling at the University of Texas at Austin in 1985, Kelley joined the football team as a running back. Although he saw limited playing time his first two years, he became the backup quarterback during his junior year and played in several games. He was then promoted to a starting role as a senior.

He worked in the economy

Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelley look at their daughter Shayla in April 1995.

Barbara Laing/Getty

After graduating from UT Austin, Kelley earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, according to a press release from Houston Baptist University. He continued his career as a partner in an investment firm and a real estate entrepreneur in the same city, before returning to his true passion: football.

He is now a college coach

Kelley got the chance to return to football when he became the quarterbacks coach at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia, Retton’s hometown.

He worked with the Fighting Falcons for two years in the 2009 and 2010 seasons before going to Pennsylvania Western University in California, where he served as director of athletics fundraising and running backs coach.

Kelley returned to Houston in 2012 with a new position as the offensive assistant coach at Houston Baptist University.

“Shannon is a product of Houston High School football and has done great things in his life,” head coach Vic Shealy said in a press release. “This is a great opportunity for our program to bring him back to Houston, where he will not only be effective on the field, but also in recruiting and within the community.”

They got married in 1990

Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelley on their wedding day on December 29, 1990 in Houston, Texas.

AP Photo/Tim Johnson

Retton and Kelley married in 1990, a year after meeting. Retton retired from professional gymnastics in 1986 and enrolled at UT Austin at the same time Kelley was studying there. They got married right after they both graduated.

They have four daughters

Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelley celebrate the holidays with their four daughters.

Mary Lou Retton/ Instagram

Five years into their marriage, Retton and Kelley had their first daughter, Shayla. Their older daughter graduated from Baylor University in 2017 with a degree in health sciences. She was also competitive in gymnastics in college, although she did not pursue it after graduation.

Shayla married Wyatt Schrepfer in January 2020 and has since developed a passion for bodybuilding, competing in various competitions since 2022.

McKenna, the couple’s second child, was born in 1997 and also followed in her mother’s footsteps. She attended Louisiana State University, where she helped her team to a second place finish at the 2019 NCAA Gymnastics Championships.

Retton and Kelley’s third daughter, Skyla, was born in 2000 and graduated from Texas Tech University in 2023. Although she did not compete in gymnastics, she was a cheerleader at school.

In 2002, the couple had their youngest daughter, Emma. The youngest of the Kelley family attends the University of Arkansas, where she is part of the gymnastics team.

Although the girls share their passion for sports with their mother, they have a special bond with Kelley. In an interview with S. in 2008 Family circleRetton said all the girls enjoy fishing with their dad.

Retton added that she loves seeing the “precious moments” Kelley shares with them as he becomes so “completely uninhibited” with the girls that when they were little, he would “let them put his makeup on him” when they played dress-up.

Years later, during her divorce from Kelley, Retton admitted that the separation was hard on her daughters, but they were her biggest support.

“My daughters were amazing,” she told PEOPLE. “There’s this fine line between daughter and friend, so there’s a lot I couldn’t share with them. They were angry at first, and any child should be when their family is separated – but we promised to spend the holidays together and try to make it as simple and painless as possible.”

“I don’t think they were surprised,” she added. “We argued a lot towards the end, but I think they were shocked that it actually happened.”

They divorced in 2018

Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelley laugh during Jersey Boys’ performance on October 13, 2008 in Washington DC

Aude Guerrucci-Pool/Getty

Retton announced the couple’s divorce while she was competing DWTS in October 2018. She said they officially split in February 2018 and told Extra that she “felt very lonely” at the time.

She explained to PEOPLE that “there wasn’t one defining moment” that led to the divorce, but instead, “that we drifted apart.”

Retton added that she initially kept quiet about the split because she is a private person, but eventually felt she wanted to share the issues she was going through.

“I’m not one to air my dirty laundry, but throughout the show I kept talking about struggles and challenges and how I lost myself and all that,” she said. “I just felt that this was my opportunity to be clear and transparent with people. That’s been a big part of my struggle for the last few years – am I doing it? You know, all the things that come with a divorce of this magnitude with such a large family. I just wanted to be authentic. I wanted to tell people why.”

As for whether she was ready to return to the dating pool, Retton admitted that she wasn’t there yet at the time.

“I’m a little scared,” she said. “I haven’t done that in over 30 years. I’m afraid!”

“I guess I have to find myself a dancer, don’t I?” Retton added. “It would be really amazing if I found myself a dancer. I’m excited — scared, but excited.”

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