Career
Kettela played football, baseball, and basketball at University of California Riverside from 1959 to 1961. He was the starting quarterback for the Highlanders during their undefeated 1960 season and was named to that year"s Small College All-American team He also played on the school"s baseball and basketball teams.
Kettela served as the offensive coordinator at University of California, Santa Barbara before returning to Riverside in 1966 as the head football coach.
In 1978, Kettela moved joined the Green Bay Packers organization as a scout. In 1981, he joined the coaching staff as special offensive assistant and was promoted to offensive backfield coach the following year.
In 1983, Kettela replaced Hugh Campbell as the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. The following season, Kettela served as an assistant coach with Arizona Outlaws of the United States Football League.
In 1985 he was the offensive coordinator of the USFL"s Portland Breakers.
Kettela served as an assistant at University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1989 and in 1990 he was the offensive coordinator under Pro Football Hall of Famer George Allen at Long Beach State. Following Allen"s death, he was a candidate for the head coaching job that ultimately went to Willie Brown. In 1991, Kettela was named head coach of Carolina Cougars the of the Professional Spring Football League.
The league folded before a game was ever played.
From 1992-2007, Kettela was the Arizona Rattlers Director of Player Personnel and an assistant coach. During his tenure with the Rattlers, the team appeared in the ArenaBowl five times, winning twice.
Kettela retired to Flagstaff, Arizona. He died on September 29, 2013.