University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Northern Colorado Athletics Mourns the Loss of O. Kay Dalton
8/22/2022 4:54:00 PM | Football
Northern Colorado Athletics mourns the passing of long time football coach and UNC Athletics Hall of Famer O. Kay Dalton.
Dalton spent 17 years on the sidelines for Northern Colorado first as the team's offensive coordinator from 1989-99 and then as head coach from 2000-05. He was a part of the 1996 and 1997 Division II Championship teams and helped guide Corte McGuffey to the Harlon Hill Award in 1999.
He took over as head coach in 2000 when Joe Glenn left for the University of Montana. Dalton led the Bears to the North Central Conference title in 2002 going 12-2 on the year including a perfect 8-0 in the NCC.
His long football career began on the field as a player at Colorado State. He was a three-year starter at tight end. At CSU he played with former UNC coaches Bob Blasi and Buck Rollins.
Dalton's coaching career began at Trinidad State College from 1958-60. His journey as a football coach for the next 45-plus years took him across many levels of football from college ranks to the CFL and NFL.
He spent five years as the head coach at Western Colorado before heading to the CFL coaching for the Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions.
He returned to the state of Colorado in 1971 first as the quarterbacks coach at Colorado and then as the receivers coach for the Denver Broncos from 1974-76. Dalton coached both 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, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1987-88, before arriving at UNC in 1989.
Dalton is a member of three Hall of Fames, the Northern Colorado Athletics, Colorado State Athletics and Western Colorado Athletics.
He is survived by his wife June and their children, Marylou, Sharon, Keith, Meredith, Scott, Todd, Frank and Jill
Others on Coach Dalton's Legacy
"Our family is so sorry to hear about the passing of O. Kay Dalton. Our entire team, coaching staff and athletic department are all thankful and lucky to have shared a fabulous run at UNC with Kay coordinating a wonderful group of offensive coaches and players. The magical run of 1996 and 1997 by the Bears was absolutely the blend of a great coaching staff coming together and working as one to build back-to-back national champions.
Kay spent many years in the NFL and collegiate football and was amazing the way he prepared for every game and every situation.
I know I speak for the staff and all the athletes that Coach Dalton touched, that he will never be forgotten."
- Joe Glenn (Head Coach, 1989-99)
"It's always hard when you lose one of your heroes. Coach Dalton was the toughest, most honest, most loving, most caring and meanest coach you would ever have. He did exactly what you needed to make you the best human being you could be. His legacy will last forever. Everyone looked up to him and you knew where you stood with him. He was an unbelievable human being and we are all better to have played for him and known him."
- Tom Beck (Quarterback, 1992-96)
"He made a big difference in all our lives. It was a special time with him and the teams in the late 90s. I do not think I would be where I am today without his influence on me. He was such a tremendous teacher. He made me the best football player I could be but also taught us the value of hard work and attention to detail and preparation all put together can make you successful. I think all of us former players have carried those values with us into our family and working lives. He has a lot to do with our successes after football."
- Corte McGuffey (Quarterback, 1995-1999)
Details on a service for O. Kay Dalton are still being worked out and announced at a later date.
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Dalton spent 17 years on the sidelines for Northern Colorado first as the team's offensive coordinator from 1989-99 and then as head coach from 2000-05. He was a part of the 1996 and 1997 Division II Championship teams and helped guide Corte McGuffey to the Harlon Hill Award in 1999.
He took over as head coach in 2000 when Joe Glenn left for the University of Montana. Dalton led the Bears to the North Central Conference title in 2002 going 12-2 on the year including a perfect 8-0 in the NCC.
His long football career began on the field as a player at Colorado State. He was a three-year starter at tight end. At CSU he played with former UNC coaches Bob Blasi and Buck Rollins.
Dalton's coaching career began at Trinidad State College from 1958-60. His journey as a football coach for the next 45-plus years took him across many levels of football from college ranks to the CFL and NFL.
He spent five years as the head coach at Western Colorado before heading to the CFL coaching for the Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions.
He returned to the state of Colorado in 1971 first as the quarterbacks coach at Colorado and then as the receivers coach for the Denver Broncos from 1974-76. Dalton coached both 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, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1987-88, before arriving at UNC in 1989.
Dalton is a member of three Hall of Fames, the Northern Colorado Athletics, Colorado State Athletics and Western Colorado Athletics.
He is survived by his wife June and their children, Marylou, Sharon, Keith, Meredith, Scott, Todd, Frank and Jill
Others on Coach Dalton's Legacy
"Our family is so sorry to hear about the passing of O. Kay Dalton. Our entire team, coaching staff and athletic department are all thankful and lucky to have shared a fabulous run at UNC with Kay coordinating a wonderful group of offensive coaches and players. The magical run of 1996 and 1997 by the Bears was absolutely the blend of a great coaching staff coming together and working as one to build back-to-back national champions.
Kay spent many years in the NFL and collegiate football and was amazing the way he prepared for every game and every situation.
I know I speak for the staff and all the athletes that Coach Dalton touched, that he will never be forgotten."
- Joe Glenn (Head Coach, 1989-99)
"It's always hard when you lose one of your heroes. Coach Dalton was the toughest, most honest, most loving, most caring and meanest coach you would ever have. He did exactly what you needed to make you the best human being you could be. His legacy will last forever. Everyone looked up to him and you knew where you stood with him. He was an unbelievable human being and we are all better to have played for him and known him."
- Tom Beck (Quarterback, 1992-96)
"He made a big difference in all our lives. It was a special time with him and the teams in the late 90s. I do not think I would be where I am today without his influence on me. He was such a tremendous teacher. He made me the best football player I could be but also taught us the value of hard work and attention to detail and preparation all put together can make you successful. I think all of us former players have carried those values with us into our family and working lives. He has a lot to do with our successes after football."
- Corte McGuffey (Quarterback, 1995-1999)
Details on a service for O. Kay Dalton are still being worked out and announced at a later date.
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