During practices at the Moshofsky Center throughout the 2010 football season, a common refrain could be heard from Chip Kelly.
“Finish! Finish!” he would yell as the players ran drills at their normal breakneck pace.
That mantra, of course, could apply to many different aspects of football: a missed tackle, an extended scoring drive or a desperate defensive stand. Now, with just one game remaining on the schedule, the season’s true finish looms on the horizon.
Whether the Ducks win or lose in the BCS National Championship Game against Auburn, it will be difficult for even Kelly to look at the season as anything but a marvelous success.
Already the reigning Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year from 2009, Kelly took that distinction home once again this year, and much more.
Just in time for Christmas, Kelly was named Associated Press Coach of the Year on Dec. 21. The national honor was his fourth of the season, after also taking home coach of the year awards from the Walter Camp Foundation, the Football Writers Association of America and The Sporting News.
All of this comes in just his second season at the helm of the Oregon program. With the fame and monetary benefits that come along with such recognition (Kelly earned a $25,000 bonus with The Associated Press award, according to The Register-Guard), an untrained observer might wonder if it will all get to Kelly’s head.
Not happening.
“The beauty of Chip is, he’s always focused on the team,” Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens told The Register-Guard. “‘The team’ not only being the football team but the athletic department team, and the University of Oregon team as a whole. And that’s what makes him so special as a leader.”
For Kelly, it is a simple life. He did not get into the business to gather personal trophies.
“I never really think of it that way,” Kelly told ESPN.com. “I have a job. I love my job. I love to get up every morning and do it.”
As has become his wont, Kelly places all of the credit on the considerable shoulders of his players.
“I’ve always thought every single one of those awards are just a recognition of the program and everybody within the program,” Kelly told The Register-Guard. “When you look at who won it and what happened to them that year to win the award, it’s because the team had success.
“You don’t win it when you’re 5-7.”
5-7, however, is where the team could have been without Kelly’s steady leadership. It is easy to forget that just one year ago, the program faced national scrutiny as player missteps off the field began to add up.
Emulating his behavior when faced with an early deficit on the scoreboard, Kelly remained calm. He suspended or dismissed those who crossed legal lines, and the team moved on.
Running back Kenjon Barner watched closely as Kelly dealt with the situation, and couldn’t help but reflect as his coach raked in the awards this season.
“It’s a great feeling,” Barner told The Register-Guard. “To know everything Coach Kelly went through this offseason and last season, for him to get the recognition that he does and get his team back on the track that he has it on, it’s a special thing.”
In the midst of leading Oregon to an undefeated season, Kelly also found the time to give back to the community. Last spring, he visited troops in the Middle East. More recently, according to The Register-Guard, he paid his respects at the funeral of fallen soldiers, and passed out holiday presents to local residents.
“It’s amazing, his empathy for people and what he wants to do for the community,” offensive line coach Steve Greatwood told The Register-Guard. “And he doesn’t publicize that. We don’t even know. We’ll look around, like, ‘Where’s Chip?’ And then you’ll find out he’s over at Target being a secret Santa for a bunch of kids.”
In all, it is difficult to quantify the impact Kelly has had in just two years at the University of Oregon. There have been 24 wins and three losses, sure, but any seasoned observer would say that his presence has meant much more.
Perhaps it is best measured by the wide smiles of fans, coaches, and players alike, as Kelly leads Oregon to dizzying heights. Yet, Kelly would say there is still one thing left to do this season.
Finish.
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