Indiana University Athletics
Kelly Joins Loaded Hoosier Class
5/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
May 11, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Mike Freitag announced the addition of United States Under-17 National team player Daniel Kelly to an already loaded Hoosier class for the 2006 season. Kelly joins U-17 national teammates Kevin Alston and Ofori Sarkodie along with Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year Eric Alexander in the 2006 signing class. Kelly showed his versatility with the U-17 National team and can play the back, midfield and forward positions.
"Daniel Kelly is an exciting prospect," Freitag said. "He played for one of the top coaches in Tennessee and one of our former managers in Russ Plumber at Hendersonville. Technically, Daniel has very good feet and is an explosive player. He also has outstanding athleticism. I think it is a credit to Daniel that he made the roster for the U-17 World Championship despite the fact that he was one of the last players brought into residency. I think Daniel Kelly's best soccer is ahead of him. I think IU soccer fans are going to be excited to watch him play."
Kelly enjoyed an outstanding prep career at Hendersonville High School, before moving into the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in August of 2005. While at Hendersonville, the 5-11, 160-pounder played for Plummer, who was a manager with the Hoosiers from 1983-87. Kelly led Hendersonville to the most wins in school history in 2005 with a 20-3-1 record on the team's way to a state runner-up finish. Hendersonville also won the Tennessee District 9 and Region titles in 2004 and 2005.
"I think it is a great opportunity for Daniel," Plumber said. "He has shown great progression in the game over the last few years, and every time he has been given a chance to show what he can do, he has risen to the occasion. Daniel is a team guy and fits very well into the team atmosphere of Indiana. He knows a couple of the guys from playing with the national team. Daniel enjoys winning and understands tradition, and I think those two things were a real draw to him.
"Daniel can do a lot of different things as a player. He can attack up top and defend in the back. Whatever is best for the team, Daniel will do just that. Even though he won numerous accolades and played for the national team, the team and winning are the most important things to him."
The list of accolades for Kelly during the 2005 campaign was lengthy. He earned The Tennessean All-State, Mid-State and All-Region honors and was the Star News, The News Examiner and District 9 Player of the Year. Kelly named to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association/ TSWA and Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-State teams. Star News also named him to the All-State and All-Region teams in 2005.
Kelly earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas high school and youth All-America accolades in 2005. He was an NSCAA/adidas All-Region honoree and was selected to the adidas Elite Soccer Player (ESP) camp in 2005.
Despite being one of the last players called into residency, Kelly made the roster for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Peru. He made one appearance in the championship, starting at back in the United States' 1-1 tie with Ivory Coast. The U.S. finished fifth at the championship and won its group with a 2-0-1 record and advanced to the quarterfinals.
In total, Kelly has earned 11 international caps with the U.S. U-17 National team. In 2006, he started all seven matches in which he has played. He registered his first career point with the U-17 National team on an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Illinois Olympic Development Program (ODP) '88 squad on Jan. 14. Along with his experience with the U-17 National team, Kelly has been invited to training camps with both the U-18 and U-20 U.S. National teams.
"As a player, Daniel Kelly has all the tools," former Hoosier great and U.S. U-17 National team assistant coach Brian Maisonneuve said. "He is very technical and has great athleticism and a great work rate. I have worked with him for about a year with the Under-17 program. He is a lot of fun to work with. Day in and day out, he leaves it all on the field. He fits the mold of an IU player, and the people in Bloomington are going to love watching him play."
Kelly played club soccer for Tennessee Football Club (TNFC) 89 under the direction of Manny Sanchez. He helped the club to Region III Premier League Championship in 2005 while leading the league in scoring. The TNFC 89 team also won the 1999 Tennessee State Championship and was the state runner-up in 2005. In both 2004 and 2005, Kelly led the TNFC club in goals and assists. He was a Tennessee ODP State Team member for four years (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) and a Region III ODP Pool player in 2003.
"Daniel has unparalleled passion for the game, which has propelled him to the next level," Sanchez said. "I have worked with him since he was 10 years old, and from a young age, I could see the passion and desire he had for the game of soccer. Those things have led him to the success his has had with the Under-17 and Under-18 National teams and to Indiana University.
"Daniel will be one of the most creative players at IU," Sanchez continued. "He is a player with pure and technical speed. Daniel has a flare for the dramatic, whether it is attempting a bicycle kick or making different moves or cuts on the field. I think he will contribute right away at Indiana, and Coach Freitag has said he wants to play him on the flanks which will allow him to use and display his speed."
Kelly attended the Indiana University Men's Soccer Camp in 2001 and 2002. He earned most valuable player honors both years. Kelly lists his soccer aspirations as playing for the U.S. in the World Cup.
Off the field, Kelly was a member of TOP SOCCER. The program was instituted to help handicapped children play the game of soccer. Kelly is also an honor student in the classroom as well.
Kelly was born March 29, 1989 to Marie and Joseph in Nashville, Tenn. He has one sibling, a younger brother named Patrick. Daniel is undecided on his major at Indiana, but is considering Pre-Med.
