Jan. 23, 2008
Vice President / Director of Athletics Ted Kissell
"He has been a great part of our success. We are going to be able to continue the continuity of our staff that has 67 years of experience."
"He has such great passion for the University of Dayton and enormous energy."
"The continuity is very important. When you have a successful program, one way to keep that going is to keep the people that made that success happen."
Dayton Head Football Coach Rick Chamberlin
"I have had a lot of highlights in my life at this University both as a player and a coach, championship games and other experiences I have had. This has to be the top, to be able to be the Head Coach."
"At this University you always set your heights to the best, and I can not think of a better place than the University of Dayton to be the head football coach."
"This is my home. This is what I know and what I believe in. To experience it through playing it on the football field and now being able to be the head coach of this program just adds to it."
"The best thing about this position is to be able to have men like Dave Whilding, Chris Ochs, Brian Steiner and Patrick Henry, the whole group of them want to be a part of it. That just shows you how good it is here at the University of Dayton."
"The expectations are very high at the University of Dayton. The bar is set high and we are always trying to inch it up a little more. We look at it as another challenge."
"The thing I have learned from Mike Kelly is how organized he is. He has everything in place and has everything planned out. He knows exactly what steps we need to take in advance before we even get there. That's the thing I've learned most about him, that you have to be as organized to be successful at this job and that is what I am going to try to do myself."
Former Head Coach Mike Kelly
"I don't think he needs advice. His office backs up to mine and there is a wall that separates us that is paper thin. You can hear everything. He has been in that office for 25 years, he has seen it all and heard it all what has come through my doors."
"Here is a guy who went to college to play football, became a graduate assistant, then an assistant coach, then a very successful defensive coordinator and now a head coach - all at the same institution."
"He played Division I football and was a major part of why the adjustment to Division III was so successful. Then as coach, helped us make the transition from III to I-AA. He understands the tradition of the Dayton football program, and the culture."
"Rick is a player's coach. They love to play for him. He has unparalleled loyalty. He loves his players."
"He is very respected in the college coaching community. Everyone wants him every winter at the coaching clinics. He's a great X-and-O guy."
"Rick's heart and soul and life is all about the University of Dayton. He had two sons graduate from UD. He's a great family man, and a very, very proud Flyer."