DAYTON – Two members of the University of Dayton's 2007 Pioneer Football League champions, Gridiron Classic champs and I-AA Mid-Major national championship team – Matt Marshall and Steve McDonald – will serve as Honorary Coaches for Sunday's Flyer football Spring Game. Marshall will coach the White Team, while McDonald will cover the Red Team.
Sunday's kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET at Welcome Stadium. Admission is free and the first 200 fans will receive free ice cream. Gates will be open at 12:15 p.m. ET.
In addition, the game will be broadcast live on 1290 WHIO Radio and streamed on DaytonFlyers.com.
Marshall and McDonald were both mainstays of the 2007 championship season. Marshall played in all 13 games at running back in UD's newly retooled one-back offense, while McDonald started at the Flyer position. The Flyers went 12-1 in 2007, the only loss coming by a touchdown at Morehead State. UD outscored its opponents by nearly 30 points a game during its season-ending seven game win streak.
It's somewhat appropriate that the 2007 team is the team to be honored at the Spring Game, because Sunday will also be the first time new quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Kevin Hoyng will be "in action." Hoyng was the quarterback on the 2007 team, and was named the PFL's Offensive Player of the Year.
A two-time captain, Hoyng holds the Flyer career records for total yardage (9,528), passing yards (8,862), and touchdown passes (59). He began his college coaching career at UD in 2009, and spent five seasons on the Flyer staff before serving as Wittenberg's offensive coordinator in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
DaytonFlyers.com caught up to both Honorary Coaches and asked each four questions in advance of their returning to UD for this year's spring game.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: What are you doing now?
MARSHALL: I'm married to my wife Ariel and we have four kids. Three boys and one girl -- Mikah (9), Shae (7), Julian (4), and baby Leo (5 months). We live in Bellbrook. I've been in consulting since graduation and I'm an Account Executive helping some of the biggest companies across the globe. My job is to build relationships, negotiate services contracts, and define solutions to address business and IT challenges. I've had the opportunity to work with companies like P&G, Amtrak, LexisNexis, 5/3 and most recently I'm focused on helping Kroger expand their sales, customer experience, and operations.
McDONALD: I reside in Centerville with my wife Colleen (UD class of '09) and two-year-old daughter Sydney. I teach Economics and U.S. History at Kettering Fairmont where I am also currently the head track coach. In the fall, I coach defensive backs at Huber Heights Wayne and have also coached middle school wrestling the last eight seasons.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: What is your best memory of Dayton football?
MARSHALL: Has to be the running beasts on the real Astroturf...maybe 7 on 7 on the Astroturf (I have the turf burn scars to prove it)...watching films with coach Ochs...coach Kelly's pregame speeches...listening to coach Whilding go nuts when running backs would make too many cuts (probably the reason he shaved his mustache our senior year)...getting the bus ride movies approved "seeing how long before they got turned off"...away game pregame meals/meetings...but seriously after we had a losing season our true senior year (the first one in a while at UD), we all deciding to come back a 5th year where we put in a brand new offense and beat Albany in the national championship. We were all playing for something knowing none of us would ever play football again.
McDONALD: Although I didn't know it at the time it was the last game of football I ever played in 2008. We came back from a 22-6 first-half deficit to beat San Diego 30-22 and snap their four-year, 28-game home win streak. Our defense played an unbelievable game and the combination of exhaustion and euphoria I felt afterwards was indescribable.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: What are you most looking forward to about coming back to the Spring Game?
MARSHALL: I'm excited to talk to the kids. I remember being in their shoes trying to earn a spot my freshman year and how important that spring game was for the rest of my career. I'm looking forward to sharing what being a Flyer and tradition means to me. I want to get the kids to relax and enjoy playing the game. I'm looking forward to some big hits which was one of my favorite things to do! (Editor's note: This is from an offensive player!)
McDONALD: It will be awesome to be able to speak to the team before the game and to be able to "coach" beside many of the coaches who I have always looked up to and who I continue to seek guidance from today.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: What was your reaction when Coach Chamberlin asked you to come back?
MARSHALL: It was my birthday when I got the call! I said I couldn't have thought of a better surprise. I then said "Coach Chamberlain you recruited me so it all makes sense now!" :)
McDONALD: I typically try to make it back for a game or two every season but was thrilled to be asked to participate in the Spring Game and did not hesitate to say yes. I am honored to be able to represent our national championship team and am very excited to see some old faces and get to know a few new folks as well.
Both coaches' most important role at the Spring Game will be sharing their experiences with the team and connecting Flyer football's past with its present, but they are also looking forward to making each call – to go for it or to kick – on fourth down.
Following the scrimmage, the Flyer recruiting class of 2021 will join their new teammates on the field in the first step together toward the 2017 season, which will be less than 150 days away.
