Central Michigan University Athletics
Joint Statement from President Rao and Coach Kelly
9/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 29, 2005
A message to the Central Michigan University community from President Rao and Head Football Coach Kelly
Statement of President Michael Rao
On Monday, in my response to the comments that had been attributed to Coach Brian Kelly in the September 22 issue of the Detroit Free Press, I indicated that Professor Kevin Love, CMU Faculty Athletics representative, met with the football team's seventeen-member Unity Council, not to conduct an investigation, but to facilitate discussion with team members and provide a description of comments made and his observations.
Professor Love reported that there was a widely shared and immediate reaction among team members that the words of Coach Kelly, as they were reported, were completely inconsistent with Coach Kelly's behavior and commitment to all students. Professor Love has indicated that the student-athletes with whom he spoke emphasized that Coach Kelly relates to players and coaches with the same intensity and style regardless of ethnicity. I thank Professor Love for his assistance.
Director of Athletics Herb Deromedi has met with Coach Kelly a number of times following the Detroit Free Press article and shares my sense of confidence in Coach Kelly's dedication to all of his student-athletes and his intellectual, philosophical, and ethical commitment to diversity.
Coach Kelly moves forward with my support. He has a good heart and shares our commitment to achieving diversity. While I and others have serious concerns about the implications of the remarks attributed to him in the Detroit Free Press, I believe that Coach Kelly's record of demonstrated commitment to diversity and to the advancement of all people is strong and sincere. My respect for Coach Kelly remains strong, regardless of my concerns about the remarks attributed to him in the Detroit Free Press.
Michael Rao
President
Statement of Coach Brian Kelly
This has been a difficult week for me, my coaches, and the CMU football team. I shared with a reporter of the Detroit Free Press last week comments that were based on personal relationships with individuals. I should not have made those comments. I am sorry and apologize to the university community.
It is clear to me that my comments, as they were reported in the Detroit Free Press, were ill-advised and should not have been made. For more than two decades, I have been privileged to coach and mentor student-athletes from a wide range of backgrounds, the past fifteen years as a successful head football coach.
This is a good time to assure everyone that I treat all student-athletes, and others, as individuals and not stereotypes. Ignorance and insensitivity to gender and ethnicity have never been associated with my leadership and tenure as a head football coach.
Though unfortunate, I have learned much from this experience and appreciate having the opportunity to strengthen my relationship with President Rao, who I hold in high regard. This incident will serve me well and help me continue to foster and sustain a positive living and learning environment.
In the days and months ahead, my energy and passion, and that of our football coaching staff, will be devoted to helping every member of our CMU football team to learn and grow and perform successfully on and off the football field. I remain committed, with the president and others, to fostering and promoting diversity and inclusion.
Brian Kelly
Head Coach
CMU Football
