Danny Kelly Named 2008-09 NISL Coach of the Year
April 7, 2009 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) News Release
The National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) announced today that Baltimore Blast head coach Danny Kelly has been voted the 2008-09 NISL Coach of the Year. Kelly, who played professional indoor soccer for 14 seasons, is completing his fourth season as the Blast head coach. The Blast will host the Rockford Rampage in the 2009 NISL Championship at 1st Mariner Saturday night.
Kelly, who played for the Blast from 1998 to 2006, took on the coaching duties for the last five games of the 2005-06 regular season and led the team to the 2006 Championship. He retired from the playing field during the 2006 offseason and guided the Blast to another Championship in 2008 and an appearance in this season's Championship Game. The Blast went 14-4 this season en route to the regular season title and a bye into the Champion Game. Over the last four seasons that Kelly has served as the coach, the Blast has gone 50-33 in the regular season and 9-2 in the postseason.
Despite not seeing game action in three seasons, Kelly ranks eighth on Baltimore's all-time scoring list, having posted 329 points (106 goals, 136 assists) in his career. He ranks third on the club's all-time postseason scoring list with 42 points (17 goals, 14 assists) in 25 playoff games. During his career, he was a five-time All-Star selection and a Second-Team selection in 2005-06; this season marks his first coaching honor. Kelly spent seven seasons with the Harrisburg Heat before joining the Blast for the 1998-99 season.
To determine winners of the postseason awards, members of the media, NISL coaches and general managers were asked to cast votes for first-place (worth five points), second-place (three points) and third-place (one point) for NISL Coach of the Year.
Top Three Coaches Receiving Coach of the Year Votes:
Coach Team Number of Points:
Danny Kelly Baltimore Blast 46
Jeff Kraft Rockford Rampage 32
Erich Geyer Monterrey La RaZa 17
A complete listing of the National Indoor Soccer League's postseason awards is available at www.nislnet. com
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Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from April 7, 2009
- Pat Healey Named 2008-09 NISL Rookie of the Year - Rockford Rampage
- Pat Healey Named 2008-09 NISL Rookie of the Year - MISL
- NISL Announces 08-09 All-Rookie Team - MISL
- Sagu Named 2008-09 NISL Goalkeeper of the Year - MISL
- Danny Kelly Named 2008-09 NISL Coach of the Year - MISL
- Pat Morris Named NISL Defender of the Year - Philadelphia KiXX
- NISL Announces 08-09 All-NISL Teams - MISL
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