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.
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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.
The Blast are the Eastern Division regular season champions. This Sunday’s game kicks at 4:05 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena.
