Coming soon: Oregon's Kelly talks football
New Hampshire Football Report will post an interview with Chip Kelly (pictured) within the next week. Kelly was elevated from the University of Oregon's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach to head coach last month, when former head coach Mike Bellotti resigned to become the school's offensive coordinator. Oregon will begin spring practice on Monday.
Kelly, a 45-year-old Dover native who played high school football at Manchester Central, served as the University of New Hampshire's offensive coordinator before he accepted a similar position at Oregon before the 2007 season.
"Very rarely do you get the opportunity to become a head football coach in college football, and to come into a situation like this," Kelly said at his introductory press conference. "Usually you get the opportunity to be a head coach because you have to turn a program around. To get a chance to take a team that finished ninth in the country last year; is one of the preeminent programs in the country; has a name, no matter where you go in the country, people know what the University of Oregon is; and to be picked to be the successor to Mike Bellotti, it's tough for me to put into words."
Here are some of the questions Kelly will be asked:
- Will he still call plays for Oregon this season?
- How much will he be involved with the team's defense?
- Will the open position on the Oregon coaching staff be filled by someone with ties to UNH?
