Dayton hires former Flyer safety as head football coach

Andrews spent the last four seasons of a 25-year coaching career as the linebackers coach at Western Michigan. This will be his first head coaching job.

“The reason I got into coaching was because of my experience at the University of Dayton,” Andrews said in a press release. “Dave Whilding, Rick Chamberlin and Mike Kelly showed me the way and made me want to help other young men have the kind of experience that I had playing college football at UD.

“When I let myself think about it, I came to realize that coaching at the University of Dayton was my dream job. The type of student-athlete you get to coach here is second to none. You get to get to know them and their families in the recruiting process, watch them grow and mature in their time as they earn their degree and graduate, and years later they come back with their own families. That’s what it’s all about.

“I’m humbled to be the Dayton football coach, a bit overwhelmed it’s actually happening, and very excited to get started.”

The announcement of Andrews’ hiring comes 13 days after Chamberlin announced his retirement. Andrews will take over a program that finished 8-3 last season and fell one victory short of its first Pioneer Football League championship since 2015.

“We are pleased to announce Trevor Andrews as our new football coach,” Dayton Athletic Director Neil Sullivan said in a press release. “He brings broad knowledge and seasoned football experience to our program. He shares a vision of excellence, on-and-off the field, that meets the standards of Dayton football. He will explore future innovative opportunities for our football program, while valuing and embracing an elite tradition that he was part of as a player.”

“Trevor Andrews is a great hire for the University of Dayton,” said Chamberlin a press release. “Not only is he a Flyer and knows the Dayton way, he has grown into an outstanding college coach since his graduation from UD. I can’t wait to see the 2023 Flyers under his leadership.”

Andrews arrived at UD in 1994 as part of a 49-man recruiting class. The first Dayton Daily News mention of him referred to him as a quarterback from of Nappanee, Ind. Then he was a 6-0, 185-pounder who was clocked in the 100 at 10.9 seconds. He finished third in the voting for Indiana’s Mr. Football after leading NorthWood High School to an appearance in the state championship in 1993.

Andrews also had a 46-1 record as a wrestler. His dad, Jim Andrews, played fullback at Manchester College (Ind.), when Mike Kelly, who coached Andrews at UD, was the quarterback.

The field at NorthWood High School was named after Jim Andrews, who coached there for 20 years, after he died in a car accident in 1992 at 44. Jim’s son and Trevor’s brother Nate is now the head coach at NorthWood.

Trevor started his coaching career in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Illinois Wesleyan. He spent one season at Randolph-Macon and then had an 18-year run at William & Mary, where he was the associate head coach for six years, the defensive coordinator for five and the recruiting coordinator for nine.

In 2002, Andrews spoke to the South Bend Tribune about his decision to get into coaching.

“I wanted to be in sports in some way,” he said. “I flirted with telecommunication, broadcasting. As college went along, I decided that I wanted to be a graduate assistant. I got my degree in education, so I knew I could teach and coach in high school, but I wanted to give college a try. I enjoy the college ranks. Now I’m trying to climb up the ranks.”