TicketsJune 8, 2009
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.