BALTIMORE BLAST'S DANNY KELLY--PLAYER, COACH, CHAMPION
The Baltimore professional athlete who has been on eight championship teams is not somebody you would find at Oriole Park or M&T Bank Stadium. Memorial Stadium either. If you search the history of the city’s indoor soccer team; one person stands out.
In the 37 year history of the Baltimore Blast (which includes two seasons as the Baltimore Spirit), there have been nine league championships and current head coach Danny Kelly has been the common thread. Three titles as a midfielder out of Penn State, followed by three All-Star selections and three league titles with the Blast after spending seven seasons with the rival Harrisburg Heat. In 2006, Kelly transitioned from player to coach and has led the Blast ever since. He was a leader as a player and maintained that as coach; winning five more league titles—including this year’s MASL championship.
With a much smaller, but still passionate fan base, the Blast enjoys good local support and Kelly continues to be a tireless advocate for soccer in the Baltimore area. At this season’s final home game, Kelly took his rightful place in the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame as the team’s 22nd inductee.
Danny Kelly heading into Blast Hall of Fame - "It's kind of surreal"
By Shawn Stepner, WMAR-TV, 3/10/17
BALTIMORE, Md. - People who know Danny Kelly know he’s been a Hall-of-Famer for years. It’s about to become official.
“What an unbelievable honor,” said the Baltimore Blast head coach and former player. “I think it’s a testament to the quality of players I played with and now play for me.”
Kelly will become the 22nd member of the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame when he’s inducted during halftime of Sunday’s regular season finale.
“It’s kind of surreal. Hall of fame - I don’t think in those terms,” said Kelly.
As Blast Head Coach for the last 11 years, Kelly has led his team to four championships and won Coach of the Year 3 times. So, what makes him a Hall of Fame coach?
“I think he’s able to adapt,” said Blast defender Pat Healey. “The game keeps changing and (he’s) able to adapt in what teams know we want to do and like to do, and keep finding new ways to defend, to attack.”
Before jumping behind the bench, Kelly starred at midfield for Baltimore from 1998-2006. He won three league titles, and went to a pair of all-star games.
“Sometimes some players just get old and some become veterans. He is a veteran of the game,” said Kelly’s assistant coach and former teammate David Bascome. “He deserves this because he’s done a lot for the game, but also for the sport.”
This weekend the Blast host a Harrisburg Heat team that they will again face on March 11 to open the playoffs, setting up what Danny Kelly calls an interesting dynamic for this Sunday.
“The game means nothing and everything. Nothing in terms of the standings. There’s no movement. It doesn’t change anybody’s playoff position. Everything, in terms of how we’re playing. We’re playing our first-round opponent so to me it’s another playoff game,” said Kelly.