Head Football Coach Brian Kelly Extends Deal Through 2013
Monday, June 22nd 2009 @ 2:31 PM
CINCINNATI – Head football coach Brian Kelly and the University of Cincinnati have agreed to terms on a new five-year deal that will keep Kelly on the sidelines through the 2013 season, Director of Athletics Mike Thomas announced today (June 22, 2009), pending the approval of the contract by the University Board of Trustees.
Kelly previously signed a new five-year contract on Dec. 17, 2007.
“In a short period of time, Brian Kelly has made a name for himself and the University of Cincinnati football team across the country,” said Thomas. “His impact has been immediate not only as a coach, but also as a member of our community and a great ambassador for the University. This past season Brian led the program to historic heights on and off the field, winning the BIG EAST Conference and leading the Bearcats to their first BCS appearance in the FedEx Orange Bowl. His program also earned accolades in the classroom for one of the nation’s highest graduation rates and posting the highest GPA in the BIG EAST. We look forward to watching the future of the football program unfold under the leadership of Coach Kelly for many years to come as we strive to stay atop the BIG EAST and bring a National Championship home to Cincinnati.”
Entering his third season at the helm of the football program, Kelly led UC to a school-record 11 wins in 2008, along with the school's first BIG EAST Conference Championship, and an appearance in the 75th FedEx Orange Bowl, the first Bowl Championship Series appearance by Cincinnati.
Following the close of the regular season, Kelly was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year for the second-straight season. He also earned American Football Monthly Schutt Sports Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Coach of the year accolades, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 1 Coach of the Year honors, and was named the Sporting News’ BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
“I want to thank Monica Rimai and the Board of Trustees for their confidence and support,” Kelly said “This agreement between the University of Cincinnati and its Athletic Department, under the charge of Mike Thomas, allows me to continue to grow, develop and ensure success for Bearcats Football. I also want to thank the Bearcats Community, fans and all those associated with our program for their support over the past 30 months. This is what truly makes Bearcats Football special – the passion of our fan base. You can be assured that we will continue to recruit quality student-athletes, so we can achieve national excellence in the classroom and on the football field. This agreement allows me and my family to call Cincinnati our home, not just a place where we live.”
The Bearcats’ 21 wins since 2007-08 marks the best two-year stretch in school history, and the first time UC has won 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons.
UC established single-season attendance records in each of the past two years, and eight of the top-12 crowds in Nippert Stadium history have come during Kelly’s tenure. The Bearcats enter the 2009 season on a six-game home winning streak.
Kelly’s student-athletes have succeeded in the classroom as well. Cincinnati was one of seven programs nationally to receive recognition for its graduation success rate of over 90 percent, while 11 players were named Academic All-BIG EAST. The Bearcats also ranked fourth in Higher Ed Watch’s 2008 Academic BCS rankings and won the BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Award, signifying the highest collective GPA among the league’s football squads.
UC returns 43 letterwinners and 11 starters, including quarterback Tony Pike, offensive tackle Jeff Linkenbach, and safety Aaron Webster. Senior wide receiver/kick returner Mardy Gilyard, was an all-America selection and First-Team all-BIG EAST performer a year ago.
Kelly receives a guaranteed salary of $1.475 million over the next five years as well as performance-based incentives. Kelly's assistant coaches will also receive pay increases to keep them in line with their BIG EAST counterparts.
News Release By: Ryan Koslen, Cincinnati Athletic Communications
Brian Kelly To Be Inducted In Grand Valley State Hall Of Fame
Monday, June 8th 2009 @ 5:06 PM
CINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati head football coach Brian Kelly will be inducted in the Grand Valley State University Athletics Hall of Fame in October, the school announced Friday.
Kelly spent 13 years (1991-2003) as the leader of the Lakers on the gridiron. He led GVSU to a 118-35-2 overall mark, including a 103-22-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record.
"It's a special honor for me to be inducted into the Grand Valley Hall of Fame, because that's where I was given a unique opportunity at the age of 28 to replace a great coach in Tom Beck,” Kelly said. “That's where I met my wife and where we started our family. We've now come full circle."
The 2009 Hall of Fame class will be inducted at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, Oct. 16, at the Kirkhof Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., and then honored during halftime of the Grand Valley State-Findlay Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 17. Ninety-six members have been inducted since the inaugural class in 1986.
Kelly guided the Lakers to five GLIAC titles and six NCAA DII playoff appearances. GVSU won eight or more games 10 times during his 13-year career. Kelly tutored 60 All-Americans during his 13 years at the helm, including a single-season record 11 All-Americans during the 2002 season.
Kelly led GVSU to the NCAA DII National Championship game in 2001, followed by back-to-back DII National Championships in 2002 and 2003. He was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year once during his time with the Lakers and the American Football Coaches Association DII National Coach of the Year twice (2002-03). Kelly turned GVSU into an offensive machine as his 2001 squad averaged 58.4 points and 600.8 yards per game.
Joining Kelly in the 2009 hall of fame class is: Emily Edlund (softball), John Flynn (basketball), Carly Miller (volleyball), Julie Upmeyer (swimming), and Scott VanDyken (baseball).
Kelly, a graduate of Assumption College, was inducted into that school’s hall of fame in 2006.
The Bearcats will open the 2009 season on Monday, Sept. 7, in a 4 p.m. BIG EAST Conference game at Rutgers. Season tickets are available now by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or visiting CATSTIX.com.
News Release By: Ryan Koslen, Cincinnati Athletic Communications
Bearcat's Game At Oregon State To Air On FSN
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 @ 5:40 PM
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati football team’s Sept. 19 contest at Oregon State at Reser Stadium will kickoff at 6:45 p.m. EDT and be televised nationally by FSN.
UC and Oregon State will conclude a two-game series that started in 2007 with a 34-3 UC victory at Nippert Stadium. Oregon State was 9-4 a year ago, placing second in the Pac-10, and closing out the season with a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh in the 75th Brut Sun Bowl.
The addition of the nationally-televised game gives the Bearcats a total of six entering the season. UC's season opener at Rutgers on Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. will air on ESPN. The game at USF on Thursday, Oct. 15 will be aired live on ESPN, the West Virginia game on Friday Nov. 13 will kickoff from Nippert Stadium at 8 p.m. on ESPN2, UC's home matchup with Illinois on Nov. 27 will be shown on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2, and the regular-season finale at Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 5 is set to air on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2 as part of the network's Championship Weekend.
Game times and television information for UC's remaining games will be announced as soon as they becomes available. Check GoBEARCATS.com for the most up to date information regarding UC football.
The Bearcats will open the 2009 season on Monday, Sept. 7, in a 4 p.m. BIG EAST Conference game at Rutgers. Season tickets are available now by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or visiting CATSTIX.com.
