Kelly Introduced as Head Football Coach
12/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 2, 2004
MOUNT PLEASANT - Brian Kelly, the highly successful coach of Grand Valley State University, was introduced as Central Michigan University's new football coach today by Chippewa athletics director Herb Deromedi.
The 42-year-old Kelly is CMU's 24th head coach. He met with the media at a press conference at the Indoor Athletic Complex at 11 a.m.
"What I'm going to bring here is 13 years as a head football coach," Kelly said. "I did not take this job to rebuild the program. The core is already in place.
"This is not a five-year rebuilding program. It's a five-minute program. We expect to win immediately."
Kelly took the CMU job for a couple of reasons.
"CMU has an athletics director in Herb Deromedi who cares about the student-athletes and the coaches," Kelly explained. "And, there is a president in Mike Rao who understands what it takes to be successful.
"The pieces were already in place for this program to be successful. We're going to practice winning every single day in everything we do. It will eventually translate to the field."
In introducing Kelly, Deromedi quipped, "Before ever coaching a game, they've named the stadium after him."
CMU plays its football games in Kelly/Shorts Stadium -- named after former football coach Bill Kelly and alum Perry Shorts.
"I was motivated by Brian Kelly from the first time I met him," Deromedi said. "He has a commitment to athletes from the state of Michigan. He built his program at Grand Valley on those players.
"Brian is an experienced head coach and a proven winner, and we're excited that he accepted the opportunity to be our next football coach. He has demonstrated great leadership qualities and the ability to develop student-athletes to a high level of success.
"He has the experience from being a head coach in terms of recruiting, working with a staff and making decisions on and off the field."
Kelly has been the head coach at GVSU the past 13 seasons, leading the Lakers to NCAA Division II national championships in 2002 and 2003 after finishing second in 2001. His last three teams went 41-2 and featured a 32-game winning streak.
"I'm excited about the opportunity of waking up a sleeping giant," said Kelly. "Central Michigan University has great tradition and facilities.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of bringing CMU football back to its rightful place at the top of the Mid-American Conference."
CMU President Mike Rao endorsed the hiring of Kelly. "In our search, it was important for CMU to seek a head coach, rather than an assistant, with a record of success," Rao said. " I'm impressed with Brian Kelly's professionalism."
The Lakers were 118-35-2 in Kelly's tenure for an impressive winning percentage of .767 - third best among active Division II head coaches. He has never had a losing season as a head coach (his 1999 team went 5-5) and his GLIAC record was an incredible 103-22-2 for a winning percentage of .820.
Kelly, GVSU's head coach since 1991, led the Lakers to five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and six NCAA Division II playoff appearances. His team finished lower than third in the conference just once. During one eight-year span, his teams finished first three times, second four times and third once.
Kelly addressed the local media about his plans for CMU's future.  | |
Kelly was named the 2002 American Football Coaches Association Division II "Coach of the Year." His team was 14-0 in that championship campaign while his 2003 team posted a 14-1 mark.
The new Chippewa mentor tutored two Harlon Hill finalists, an award given annually to the top player in Division II. Curt Anes won the award in 2002 and was second in 2001 while Jeff Fox was third in 1998. Both were quarterbacks.
Kelly's players have earned 77 All-America awards with four of his players competing in the National Football League and three more in the Canadian Football League.
The 2001 Lakers set 77 NCAA, GLIAC and school records, setting the all-time NCAA Division II record for scoring with 58.4 points per game. They also became the first team in Division II in 53 years to average more than 600 yards per game on offense (600.8).
GVSU averaged 497.5 yards and 47.0 points per game in 2002 while the 2003 team was more noted for its defense. It stopped North Dakota, 10-3, in the Division II championship game.
A native of Chelsea, Mass., where he attended St. Johns Prep School, Kelly was a four-year letterwinner at Assumption (Mass.) College as a linebacker. After graduating from Assumption in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in political science, he served as a linebacker coach, defensive coordinator and softball coach from 1983-86.
Kelly joined the Grand Valley staff in 1987 as a graduate assistant and defensive back coach. He became the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in 1989 and took over as head coach in 1991. His first team went 9-3 and made the NCAA playoffs.
Brian and his wife, Paqui, have three children - Patrick Liam (6), Grace Marie (4) and Kenzel Michael (2).
Following is Kelly's year-by-year head coaching record:
Year Overall Pct. GLIAC Pct. 1991 9-3* .750 8-2 .800 1992 8-3 .727 8-2 .800 1993 6-3-2 .635 6-2-2 .700 1994 8-4* .667 8-2 .800 1995 8-3 .727 8-2 .800 1996 8-3 .727 8-2 .800 1997 9-2 .818 9-1 .900 1998 9-3* .750 9-1 .900 1999 5-5 .500 5-4 .555 2000 7-4 .636 7-3 .700 2001 13-1** .928 9-0 1.000 2002 14-0*** 1.000 9-0 1.000 2003 14-1*** .933 9-1 .900 13 yrs. 118-35-2 .767 103-22-2 .820
*NCAA Playoffs **NCAA Division II Finalist***NCAA Division II Champion