As the University of Northern Colorado transitions from Division II to Division I-AA and from the ranks of an independent to a member of the Big Sky Conference, the school has continued to look for guidance from O. Kay Dalton. Dalton has served as an assistant coach or head coach since 1958 and Northern Colorado will look to use that experience to the best of its ability with Dalton at the reins. Despite the Bears' struggles of a 2-9 season in 2004, Dalton was still able to guide the Bears to a 2-3 mark in the inaugural year of the Great West Football Conference. The Bears also gained national recognition from senior wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Jackson was drafted in the second round of the 2005 National Football League draft by the San Diego Chargers and became the highest drafted pick in UNC's history. Dalton and the Bears moved up to Division I-AA football in 2003 and posted an overall mark of 9-2, including road wins over I-AA opponents Montana State (14-10), Southern Utah (29-25) and UC-Davis (35-28). The Bears set 25 offensive records in 2003 en route to earning a No. 19 ranking in both the coaches' and media polls. Dalton and the Bears put together a tremendous 2002 season which ended with the Bears winning a North Central Conference championship and a berth into the national semifinals of the Division II playoffs. Dalton was named Region V Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. Dalton was tabbed as the 14th head coach in school history at a press conference on Dec. 6, 1999.

No stranger to the UNC program, Dalton served as offensive coordinator at the school from 1989 until his appointment as head coach. Under his tutelage, the Bears offense thrived, consistently ranking among the national leaders in total offense and scoring offense. In 1999, the Bears ranked seventh in Division II in scoring offense (39.5 ppg), 11th in passing offense (274.5 yards/game) and 15th in total offense (419.9 yards/game).

The Bears have set or tied 135 offensive records since Dalton arrived at UNC, including points in a season (437 in 1998), total offense in a season (5,069 yards in 2002) and passing yards in a season (3,280 in 2002). Under Dalton's guidance, quarterback Corte McGuffey posted two of the finest offensive seasons ever in UNC history in 1998 and 1999. McGuffey won the 1999 Harlon Hill Trophy after finishing second in the balloting as a junior. Dalton has consistently turned out professional players from the Bears' system which is similar to a National Football League program. The Bears currently have five players listed on NFL rosters heading into the the 2005 season: Anthony Dunn (Houston Texans), Vincent Jackson (San Diego Chargers), Dirk Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles), Brad Pyatt (Indianapolis Colts) and Aaron Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers).

Dalton carries an impressive resume which includes coaching at all levels of football. He has served as an assistant coach with four National Football League (NFL) teams, two Canadian Football League (CFL) teams and two NCAA Division I programs before arriving at UNC in 1989. This is Dalton's fourth head coaching position, having served as head coach at Trinidad State Junior College (1959-60), Western State College (1961-65) and the Montreal Allouettes (1968-71) of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

While at Western State, he amassed a record of 33-12 (.733) and, in 1964, led the Mountaineers to the Mineral Bowl. He led WSC to three straight Rocky Mountain Conference titles and four in his five seasons as coach.

He then served as the defensive coordinator with the Montreal Allouettes, before being named the team's head coach in 1968, a position he held until 1971.

After leaving Montreal, Dalton spent one season as offensive line/receivers coach with the British Columbia Lions before moving to the University of Colorado as its quarterback/receivers coach and offensive coordinator. Under CU head coach Eddie Crowder, Dalton helped the Buffs to the Gator Bowl and a second-place national ranking in 1972. While at CU, he coached such stars at Cliff Branch, Emery Moorehead and Charlie Johnson.

From 1974-77, Dalton was the Denver Broncos' receivers coach, developing Floyd Little and Riley Odoms to Pro Bowl status. For the next eight years, Dalton served as an assistant with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers, coaching such stars as Earl Campbell, Warren Moon and O.J. Simpson. While at Kansas City, Dalton coached former UNC quarterback Bill Kenney.

Dalton returned to the Broncos and spent two more years as their receivers coach, where he coached the famed "Three Amigos" (Mark Jackson, Vance Johnson and Ricky Nattiel), John Elway's favorite targets in the mid-1980s. He then returned to his alma mater, Colorado State University, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1987-88, before arriving at UNC in 1989.

Dalton, 73, earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from CSU in 1954 and his master's degree in psychology and counseling from CSU in 1958. A three-year starter at tight end for the Aggies, Dalton was a teammate of former UNC coaches Bob Blasi and Buck Rollins. He earned All-America honors in 1953. He was inducted into the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. Dalton and his wife, June, reside in Greeley.

Head Coaching Resume

Year	School	Record
1958	Trinidad State JC	5-4 (.556)
1959	Trinidad State JC	8-2 (.800)
1960	Trinidad State JC	8-2 (.800)
1961	Western State	4-5 (.444)
1962	Western State	5-4 (.556)
1963	Western State	8-1 (.889)
1964	Western State	9-1 (.900)
1965	Western State	7-1 (.875)
1967	Montreal Allouettes (CFL)	2-12 (.143)
1968	Montreal Allouettes (CFL)	3-9-2 (.286)
1969	Montreal Allouettes (CFL)	2-10-2 (.214)
2000	Northern Colorado	4-7 (.364)
2001	Northern Colorado	7-4 (.636)
2002	Northern Colorado	12-2 (.857)
2003	Northern Colorado	9-2 (.818)
2004	Northern Colorado	2-9 (.182)
2005	Northern Colorado	4-7 (.364)
17 yrs.	Head Coaching Record	99-82-4 (.546)
6 yrs.	At Northern Colorado	38-31 (.5551)
3 yrs.	At Montreal	7-31-4 (.214)
5 yrs.	At Western State	33-12 (.733)
3 yrs.	At Trinidad State	21-8 (.724)

The Dalton File

Trinidad State Junior College - Head Coach (1958-60)

Western State College - Head Coach (1961-65)

Montreal Allouettes (CFL) - Defensive Coordinator (1966-67)

Montreal Allouettes (CFL) - Head Coach (1967-69)

British Columbia Lions (CFL) - O-Line/WR Coach (1971-72)

University of Colorado - Offensive Coordinator (1972-74)

Denver Broncos (NFL) - Wide Receivers Coach (1974-77)

Buffalo Bills (NFL) - Quarterbacks/WR Coach (1977-78)

Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) - Quarterbacks/WR Coach (1978-83)

Houston Oilers (NFL) - Offensive Coordinator (1983-85)

Buffalo Bills (NFL) - Quarterbacks Coach (1985-86)

Denver Broncos (NFL) - Wide Receivers Coach (1986-87)

Colorado State University - Offensive Coordinator (1987-88)

University of Northern Colorado - Offensive Coordinator (1989-99)

University of Northern Colorado - Head Coach (2000-05)