Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly (born November 25, 1963) is the head coach of football at the University of Oregon. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football today, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the University of Oregon football team. Kelly was named to that position prior to the 2007 season, after thirteen seasons at the University of New Hampshire, the last eight of which he served as offensive coordinator. It was announced on December 2, 2008 that Kelly will take over as head coach of the Oregon Ducks once current University of Oregon Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny steps down; at which time current Oregon football head coach Mike Bellotti will become the new Oregon athletic director. It was then announced on March 13, 2009 that Mike Bellotti was resigning and Kelly would take over on March 30.

Early coaching years

While Kelly was offensive coordinator at New Hampshire (1999-2006), the Wildcats' offenses averaged better than 400 yards of total offense in seven of his eight seasons and more than 30 points per game in his final four seasons.

Kelly’s best offensive output was in 2005 when the Wildcats finished second nationally in total offense (493.5 ypg), third in scoring (41.7 ppg) and fifth in passing (300.1 ypg), while completing the season with an 11-2 record. In 2004, the school broke 29 offensive school records, compiling 5,446 yards of total offense and scoring 40 or more points in seven games. Kelly was named the College Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston following the 2005 season in addition to being selected as “one of college football’s hottest coaches” by American Football Monthly.

He broke into the coaching ranks in 1990 at Columbia University, where he served as freshman secondary and special teams coach. He assumed responsibility for the Lions’ varsity outside linebackers and strong safeties the following year before returning to New Hampshire as running backs coach in 1992. He left to become defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins University for one season, before returning to his alma mater and serving as running backs coach for three more seasons (1994-96) and coaching the offensive line for two seasons (1997-98).

Offensive Coordinator at Oregon

Kelly's potent spread option offensive attack was an instant success at Oregon. Under his direction in 2007, his first season at Oregon, the Ducks led the Pac-10 in scoring (38.15 ppg) and total offense (467.54 ypg), and also became the highest scoring team while amassing the most yards in the history of Oregon football.

The Ducks once again led the Pac-10 in scoring (41.9 ppg) and total offense (484.8 ypg), while breaking the school record marks set the previous season.

Quarterbacks under Kelly's offense

One of the primary reasons for the Ducks' offensive success in 2007 was Kelly's ability to bring out the best in quarterback Dennis Dixon, who had struggled mightily the season prior to his arrival. Under Kelly's tutelage, Dixon thrived during his senior season in the spread option formation, becoming a Heisman front-runner and leading the Ducks to a No. 2 ranking in the AP Poll, before a late season knee injury. Despite the injury, Dixon's turnaround under Kelly resulted in him being selected in the 5th round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kelly's quarterback development prowess was once again on full display in 2008. After a series of injuries at the quarterback position, Jeremiah Masoli, a sophomore junior college transfer playing his first season at Oregon, was thrust into a starting role. Despite missing the majority of fall camp with a preexisting wrist injury, Masoli quickly adjusted to Kelly's offense and showed steady improvement as the season progressed, leading the Ducks to a 10 win season and a 42-31 Holiday Bowl victory over Oklahoma State. Masoli was named offensive MVP of the game. Over the final four games of the season, Masoli lead the Ducks to a 4-0 record while totalling 14 touchdowns, a 170.75 passer rating and 294 rushing yards.

In his time at New Hampshire, Kelly had developed another award winning quarterback. During the 2006 season, Ricky Santos was the recipient of the Walter Payton Award (awarded annually to the best offensive player in Division I-AA), after finishing second in the balloting in 2005. Santos finished his junior year fourth in the country in passing (3,125 yards) and threw for 29 touchdowns.

Rushing under Kelly's offense

In 2007, the Ducks lead the Pac-10 in rushing offense with 251.7 ypg while also leading in yards per carry with 5.3. Jonathan Stewart broke the Oregon school record by rushing for 1,722 yards while leading the Pac-10 in rushing and all-purpose yards (2,481). This staggering production led Stewart to leave Oregon a year early as a junior, becoming a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft as the Carolina Panthers selected him with the 13th overall pick.

Despite the departure of Stewart, the Oregon rushing offense was able to lead the Pac-10 once again. The Ducks led the Pac-10 in rushing offense with 280.1 ypg, while producing two 1,000 yard rushers in the same season (Jeremiah Johnson - 1,201; LeGarrette Blount - 1,002). Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli also set a school record for quarterbacks by rushing for 718 yards and 10 touchdowns. Despite playing in a backup role, Blount set a school record by rushing for 17 touchdowns and Johnson rushed for 13 more.

Personal

Kelly is a native of Manchester, NH and earned his B.Sc. in physical education from University of New Hampshire in 1990. He is engaged to Karen Biagini.

External links

• GoDucks.com Biography - Chip Kelly