Dayton Flyers

University of Dayton head football coach Rick Chamberlin has announced that long-time assistant Chris Ochs has been named the Flyers offensive coordinator. A former college quarterback, Ochs has been UD’s offensive line coach for the last 12 seasons. Ochs succeeds Dave Whilding, who retired in December after 35 years on the Dayton staff.

Chamberlin also announced that former Flyer QB Kevin Hoyng will move from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach, and Kevin McCoy, a former UD defensive back, has been elevated to a full-time position on the staff.

“I’m very happy to announce these changes,” Chamberlin said. “The continuity of our football staff is a strength of our program. It’s a plus for our players. They know where our coaches are coming from. It helps them be comfortable and confident, and when you are comfortable and confident, you perform better.

“That doesn’t mean we will do things exactly the same. All three of these men are excellent coaches, and they will put their own stamp on the program in their new roles. But the core values of the Dayton Flyer football program remain the same, and that’s big for our players.”

Since Ochs came to Dayton for the 2000 season, UD’s O-Line has opened holes and protected quarterbacks, which allowed Dayton to win six Pioneer Football League championships, and finish annually among the top offenses in the PFL in scoring and total yardage.

“Chris has been with us for 12 years now, and was part of our transformation from the I-formation offense to the spread,” Chamberlin said. “He was a successful quarterback in college and was an offensive coordinator before he came to UD. He has been an integral part of our offensive successes since he came to Dayton and I am looking forward to him guiding our offense.”

Ochs came to UD from Defiance College, where he had been an assistant coach from 1996-2000. At Defiance, he served as both offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. He was a three-year letterman at Capital University, where he started at quarterback, and was the team captain his senior year.

When he graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s in Business Management, Ochs held five career offensive records. He remains fourth in career offensive yards (4,634), fourth in passing yards (4,323) and fourth in touchdown passes (37).

“It’s an honor and a privilege to coach at the University of Dayton, and if it’s possible, even more so in this new role,” Ochs said. “I have to thank (former head coach) Mike Kelly for bringing me on the staff, and Rick Chamberlin for this new opportunity. And of course, coach (Dave) Whilding, who gave me a lot of responsibility from the start and helped me prepare for this job.

“There will be an adjustment period, I’m sure,” Ochs continued. “But the players will have a comfort level as we work toward what we hope to accomplish. They are excited about some of the new things we will be doing. As I told them, it’s great to be excited, now we have to get on the field and make it work.”

One of four current Flyer alums on the UD coaching staff, Hoyng is now in his fourth season coaching at his alma mater after being named the 2009 Tony Ernst Assistant Coach. Hoyng graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Education, and after a year of teaching and coaching at Northmont High School, joined the Flyer football staff.

“Kevin (Hoyng) is perfect as the man to replace coach Whilding as our quarterbacks coach,” Chamberlin said. He worked with him for eight years – five as a player and three as a coach. Kevin’s a coach’s son. It’s in his blood. And he wasn’t too bad of a quarterback either.”

A two-time captain, Hoyng’s playing career from 2004 to 2007 was one of the best in school history. He holds the Flyer career records for total yardage (9,528), completions (530), passing yards (8,862), and touchdown passes (59). After his final season in 2007, Hoyng was named the PFL Offensive Player of the Year. He completed a school-record 34 passes in his final collegiate game, leading UD to a 42-21 victory over Albany in the Gridiron Classic that earned Dayton the 2007 Mid-Major I-AA National Championship.

McCoy will continue to coach the secondary, as he has for the last two seasons, but he will add the duties of recruiting coordinator. McCoy is no stranger to the Flyers’ secondary, as he was a member of the group from 2003 to 2006. As a player, he earned both a letter and was named the AJ Cohen Flyer of the Year in 2006, an award that speaks for the character of its recipient.

“We’re very fortunate to elevate Kevin (McCoy) to full-time status and keep him on our staff,” Chamberlin said. “He was one of those guys who you just knew when he played he was made to be a coach. He will continue to coach in the secondary and have the additional responsibility of serving as our recruiting coordinator.”

Following graduation, McCoy used his degree in AYA Education to teach and coach one season at Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. He then took his whistle to Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis. for two seasons, where he was cornerback coach and assistant strength coach.

The Flyers’ spring practice season will begin Tuesday, March 20. PFL regulations allow for 15 practices dates in the spring. Dayton will hit the field March 23, 24, 25, 27, 30 and 31 for the first week of practice. In April, UD will practice on April 1, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 21 leading up to the annual Spring Game on April 22.