News By Copper Football League

Football and Family in his Blood

He graduated from Milford HS in Milford, Nebraska, where he grew up, which is located about 15 to 20 minutes west of Lincoln. He was a four-year letterman in football and track and a two-year letterman in basketball. He was a three-year All Conference Linebacker and one-year All-State LB. He won Defensive Player of the year in football his junior and senior years. He won Defensive Player of the Year in basketball his senior year. Went on to play for a year at the University of Nebraska.

Kelly moved to AZ in 1980 and married Teresa in 1985. He is the proud father of four children; Nicole 22, Jesse 20, Chelsie 15, and Zak 12. Kelly observed "We spend every summer with family back in Big Red country and the kids look forward to seeing all of their cousins/aunts/uncles as much as I do." After moving to the valley, in 1989 he started his own business, Southwest Roofing Consultants, Inc. "It is a family run business where everyone feels good about showing up every day, well almost every day" Kinion adds with a smile on his face!

His love for the sport came as a Pop Warner/midget football player back in Nebraska where he played for a coach by the name Bill Backes. "It was a great initial experience as we were a small town team competing against teams from Lincoln and Omaha. We were unbeaten for the four years I played for coach and he went on for 12 years without a loss. He is a major part of why I coach football and love the game," said Coach Kinion. Kelly Kinion has been coaching since 1985 when he started out as an assistant at Bradshaw Mountain High School.

In addition to his head coaching duties with the Glendale Bulldogs, he is involved with a Youth Football League in the valley where he coaches the Deer Valley Threshers. Six of his Bulldog players are assistant coaches, noting "we really have a lot of fun with the kids."

Coach Kinion on his Bulldogs, "Our philosophy for the Bulldogs is FAMILY and while we only have the four children from birth, we have about 40 more kids that are a part of our extended family. I believe Teresa (better known as Momma Teresa) is a very big part of that, as without the mom the family unit just isn't the same."

Prior to his joining the Bulldogs, they had been playing in the AZFL for 6 years as one of the original teams in that league. Since joining the Bulldogs in 2001 they have won two championships: 2001 and 2004. The Bulldogs have compiled a record of 62-21 over that 8-year timeframe.

Coach Kinion was part of the original ownership group who started the Copper State Football League, and the Bulldogs were one of the first teams to commit to the CFL. Coach Kinion on the CFL; "There is a big difference in the way things are done here, compared to the other league. The level of competition is much higher and the overall conditions and the way things are run is a whole lot more professional. Since we joined the CFL we've never looked back."

Coach Kinion has been named coach of the year three (3) times, and Offensive coordinator of the year once. "We pride ourselves on a hardnosed brand of football and try to instill in our players that every down should be played like it's your last one, because you never know."

"One of my proudest accomplishments is every year when we team up with Adam Richman, CFL League Commissioner, and the league to play the pre-season charity fund raiser games. Recently we have been supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities which is a very good charity and one that we will continue to support." said Kinion.

In the past, the Bulldogs and the CFL concentrated on helping kids with cancer; reaching out to high school students/athletes plagued with cancer to help them defer some of the enormous costs that come with treating this awful disease.

When asked about the future of the Glendale Bulldogs in the CFL, Coach Kinion said,

"We are excited about the team this year and I assure you we will be at the top of the league again." For more information about the Glendale Bulldogs visit: www.glendalebulldogsfootball.com