Athletic Director Michael Kelly's bold vision important to growth of USF football
TAMPA — Michael Kelly is talking about the future of South Florida athletics. He speaks quietly, often leaning forward in his chair as he collects his thoughts. Kelly, South Florida's athletic director, has a chance to be the most impactful AD here since Lee Roy Selmon, the father of South Florida football and a man Kelly once worked for.
Under Kelly's watch and triggered by his hire of Jeff Scott, USF's football coach, South Florida is planning a bold move forward in terms of facilities and performance which is arising out of a new enthusiasm among the fan base, alumni and community at large.
Not far from his office, a new indoor practice facility is in the final stages of construction. It should be ready late this fall, the first really solid evidence of a Facilities Master Plan, which includes upgrades and improvements for every sport on campus.
It represents a bold vision, with the centerpiece a new, expandable 35,000 seat football stadium tentatively scheduled for completion in 2026 - provided everything comes together. The stadium is, by far, the most costly part of the project with a low end price of $300 million. Some projections have it closer to $400 million.
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Kelly and others inside and outside the USF administration insist it will be built. An architect has been hired to design it and a plan to fund it is in place, but obtaining the financing will depend primarily on selling bonds to private individuals and corporations, who will have to be convinced they will get a return on their investment.
Kelly is resolute in his determination to see the stadium project reach fruition.
"It's important to create the right environment, the right atmosphere for our fans and alumni, a central gathering place," he said. " We're unique in the sense that most new stadiums are built because the old facility becomes decrepit and unusable," Kelly continued. "That's not the case with us. Raymond James (the Bucs' stadium) is one of the finest facilities in the country. But we need a place that meets our particular needs."
One of the big keys to all this is keeping the fan and donor base happy and excited, and nothing gets them more excited then a winning football team.
Although it mostly goes unspoken, part of the reason for all these upgrades is the thought that it will better prepare USF for entrance into a Power Five conference like its rival up the road, Central Florida. The football team, though, is struggling.
After what appeared to be a breakthrough moment at Florida, when USF pushed the highly favored Gators right to the final seconds before losing on Sept. 17, the team collapsed against Louisville on Saturday and continues its up and down, yo-yo like performance. If this does not change, at some point support for the athletic department's new vision could sour.
But Kelly insists Scott is not in any danger. "No, because I know how much work needed to be done," he said. "I knew this was not something we could change overnight. You need to have everything in place. It's not just bringing in a new coach. You have to give them the proper facilities, all the tools they need to build a winning program. Once you do that, then it's fair to evaluate them."
Which is the purpose of the Facilities Master Plan, to not only help Scott, but every other coach on campus as well. Still, what would Kelly like to see the football team accomplish this year? What would he consider a successful season?
Kelly smiles.
"Getting to a bowl game would be great," he said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Michael Kelly's bold plans for facilities growth of USF Bulls football
