O'Kelly originally arrived at The Banks's Stadium in November 2011 as an advisor to manager Dean Smith, however Richard left the club to take up the vacant manager's position at Hereford United in March 2012.
Following The Bull's ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation to the Blue Square Bet Premier League O'Kelly returned to The Saddlers in June 2012 as assistant manager.
However following the appointment of Sean O'Driscoll as manager at Bristol City, O'Kelly left Walsall to take up the role of first-team coach at the club, 56-year-old O'Kelly, a long time friend of O'Driscoll, joined up with him for a third time, having previously worked together at both AFC Bournemouth and Doncaster Rovers.
O'Kelly had cited personal reasons for his departure from The Robins as his family was still located in the midlands and the travel arrangements were becoming a strain.
Walsall manager Dean Smith was very keen to secure O'Kelly after hearing news of his return to the region as he sees the 56-year-old as a major factor in The Saddlers' recent return to form.