The 2005 UD football season marks Mike Kelly's 25th year as head coach of the Flyers.

Thus far, the team has celebrated in fine fashion going 8-1 with just one game to play.

'We're spoiled, and that was the goal. The goal was to be 10-0,' said UD offensive coordinator Dave Whilding. 'I think at the end of this, we'll realize that we weren't too bad.'

Not too bad is probably an understatement. UD's only loss of the season came at the hands of San Diego, and the Flyers will try to make it 9-1 for Kelly's 25th season Saturday against Butler.

After taking over at the helm for UD in 1981, Kelly did nothing less than lead the Flyers to a 12-1 record. He also received Kodak Coach of the Year honors that season.

In 1993, Dayton moved from Division III to Division I-AA and joined the Pioneer Football League (PFL). Kelly's resume continued to grow as he won PFL Coach of the Year his first three years in the league.

He outdid himself in 1996 when the Flyers went 11-0 and won the PFL Championship, and Kelly was named I-AA Non-Scholarship Coach of the Year.

Kelly was Co-Coach of the Year again in 2001, and in 2002 he led UD to the I-AA Mid-Major National Championship.

With a career record of 230-47-1, Kelly has both the most wins and the highest winning percentage in UD football history. In addition, he has the third most wins among active coaches at the Division I level, trailing only Florida State's Bobby Bowden and Penn State's Joe Paterno.

To complement Kelly's 25 years of experience, UD boasts two even more experienced assistants. Whilding is in his 29th season, and defensive coordinator Rick Chamblerin is in his 26th as a coach for the Flyers. The staff says that continuity has been a key to UD's past successes.

'The players can rely on the stability of the coaching staff,' Chamberlin said. 'They know that what the coaching staff has done in the years past works, so they have confidence in that.'

'We all have our jobs to do, and we all get them done,' adds Whilding. 'When you're doing it year after year after year, it just makes it easier. You're not in a new situation. And the kids know what to expect.'

Yet there is more to the man than his myriad accomplishments as football coach at UD.

'He's a very down-to-earth individual,' Chamberlin said when asked what Kelly is like away from the football field. 'He's a family man, his family is very important to him. He has two daughters Jodie Beth and Nikki. He doesn't put on any airs about himself. He's just one of those guys you feel at ease around.'

2005 has been a milestone season for Flyer football. Not only is it Kelly's 25th season as coach, UD also celebrated 100 years of varsity football and the Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy was presented on Senior Day for the 50th time.

'I think the university's done a great job in publicizing the fact that this is 100th year of Dayton football,' said Chamberlin. 'Plus we've been very fortunate to have former players that have stopped by, and we've given them opportunities to talk to the team. I really believe it has an impact upon our players this year to be a part of it.'

After 25 years of working at the same job, some would get restless. Not Kelly, though. His coordinators say he is as passionate about his job now as he was the day he started.

'It's his makeup. He loves the game of football,' explained Chamberlin. 'In this occupation, it is a passion. You love this so much. That's why you put all the hours and time into it. Right now, the fire is still burning really hot for Coach Kelly.'

'We get great kids,' Whilding said. 'This is not a hard place to work because there's a good atmosphere here. It's a great university, it's a good community and we get good young men who are from good families' That makes it easy to come to work everyday.'

Rather than discussing coaching records and great successes, Chamberlin and Whilding chose to talk about something else that makes this coaching staff so special. All three men genuinely care about every student athlete in the UD program.

'I think it's because of the atmosphere we're in to begin with at the University of Dayton,' said Chamberlin. 'We know what is important to this school, and it's the students. We care about our kids.'

'Like I said, we're getting great people,' Whilding adds. 'They're not just good football players, they're good people. I think you have to care about them ' that's why we're here.'

Twenty-five years is a long time to be in this business. So how much longer will Kelly, Whilding and Chamberlin man the reigns of the UD football program?

Says Whilding, 'Until they kick us out, I guess.'

Mike Kelly's 25th season as UD head coach comes to an end Saturday when the Flyers travel to Indianapolis to face Butler at 1 p.m.