Dayton Flyers

Dec. 17, 2008

• UD Story - Ted Kissell

  Ted Kissell, vice president and director of athletics, will retire Jan. 1, 2009, after 17 years at the helm. But before he retires the University of Dayton profiled Kissell and his tenure at UD.

  The last 10 years have been arguably the most successful in the history of UD athletics -- more championships than any previous decade, high graduation rates and academic honors, and an unprecedented period of facility improvement and expansion.

  Kissell oversees 17 intercollegiate athletics programs, the University of Dayton Arena and the surrounding Arena Sports Complex. Since 1998, UD has enjoyed 26 conference championships, and 20 teams have reached post-season play. The 2007-08 school year was the most successful "team" year in UD history. Dayton's final winning percentage for football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball was .629.

  The progress of the men's basketball program in the last decade years toward greater national prominence has been marked by three NCAA bids, three NIT bids and an average of more than 20 wins a season.

  Strong performance on the field has not come at the expense of high performance in the classroom. The Flyers' combined cumulative grade point average has steadily risen to the highest in school history (3.209). UD's 95 rating in the NCAA's latest Graduation Success Rate report is the best in the Atlantic 10 Conference and is in the top 5 percent among the nation's 330 Division I institutions.

  Kissell will be honored at halftime during Saturday's men's basketball game as the Flyers host the UNC Greensboro Spartans. Game time is at 8 p.m.

  Don't miss out on your chance to see the Flyers in action. To purchase tickets go online to Ticketmaster.com, stop by the Ticket Office at UD Arena or call (937) 229-4433.

  The UD Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET and on weekends three hours prior to the start of men's home basketball games.

  Dayton will also wear its home alternate jersey for the first time this season.