Cincy turns to Chippewa

From staff and electronic reports
©2006 Bonesville.net. All rights reserved.

Those East Carolina football fans that spent part of their weekend worrying that Pirate coach Skip Holtz might bolt for Cincinnati can take a deep breath.

After a whirlwind search that included Holtz and LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini among its chief targets, UC announced Sunday it would formally introduce Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly as the Bearcats next head coach at a Monday afternoon press conference.

Kelly, who took Central Michigan to a Mid-American Conference football championship in his third season as coach, will succeed Mark Dantonio, who resigned last month to take over the Michigan State football program.

Kelly has compiled a 157-51-2 record in 16 seasons as a college head coach. This past season he directed the Chippewas to a 9-4 season and a 31-10 win over Ohio in the MAC Championship Game. It marked Central Michigan's first championship since 1994 and landed the program its first bowl berth since that same year. The Chippewas will face Middle Tennessee State in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26.

"Brian Kelly is a proven commodity, as a championship football coach and a great leader of young men," stated UC Director of Athletics Mike Thomas in a release on the school's official athletics Web site. "From the first time that I had a chance to meet him I was taken by his personality and his drive for success. From coaching two national championship teams at Grand Valley State to winning the MAC Championship in only his third year at Central Michigan, Brian has been a winner everywhere he has coached.

"Brian Kelly is a perfect match for the University of Cincinnati as we move to the top of the Big East."

Known for his offensive approach, Kelly is the architect of a CMU attack that ranks 19th nationally in passing offense, 27th in scoring offense, and 31st in total offense.

PAGE UPDATED 02/23/07 11:33 AM.

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