Next game:
Who: Dayton (6-4, 4-3 PFL) vs. Drake (8-2, 6-1)
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
Dave Whilding, the University of Dayton offensive coordinator, was leaning toward retiring after last season, but coach Rick Chamberlin didn’t want to lose him.
During his 35-year tenure, Whilding has developed three quarterbacks who became UD Hall of Famers — Dan Sharley, Steve Keller and Kevin Johns — and two more in Kevin Hoyng and Steve Valentino who likely are future inductees. And Chamberlin hoped Whilding would help guide the Flyers through a transition to a new QB.
“Dave expressed he was thinking about it, and I said, ‘OK, Dave, let me give you my two cents,’ ” Chamberlin said. “I explained the situation, how great it would be to have him, and Dave never flinched. He said, ‘You’re right, Rick. I’ll be back next year.’ ”
With redshirt freshman Will Bardo seemingly on his way to a productive career, Whilding, 62, will say goodbye to the program after Saturday’s game at Drake. He played QB for Rick Carter at Earlham College and then joined the UD staff when Carter took over in 1977.
He’s been the Flyers’ offensive coordinator the last 29 years.
“It’s a tough decision,” he said. “This has been a great 35 years — great for me and great for my family. I feel honored, I feel special that I was treated like I was by Rick Carter, Mike Kelly and Rick Chamberlin and the administration here. ... It’s tough, but it’s time.”
Whilding was an animated figure on the UD sideline, not one to shy away from chewing out a player. But Hoyng, a senior star in 2007 as the Flyers made the transition to the spread offense, said Whilding was just as quick to dole out praise.
“He taught me a lot about quarterback play and offense in general, but also about becoming a man and being a better person,” said Hoyng, now a tight ends coach at UD. “He had a vital impact on my playing career and coaching career.”
Whilding isn’t sure what he’ll do in retirement, just that he wants to spend more time with wife Evie. The two will celebrate their 40th anniversary in June.
“If somebody out there knows something, they’d better tell me,” he said. “I’m a little nervous. When you work 70 hours a week and then go to nothing, what are you going to do? Evie keeps asking me that. I say, ‘I don’t know. We’ll find something.’ ”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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