The Interesting Tie That Already Exists Between Delaware Football and CUSA

While the school has yet to formally announce the move, the University of Delaware Blue Hens are expected to enter FBS and become members of Conference USA for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Casual fans of the conference and of FCS football may not be aware that an connection already exists between the Delaware football program and the one at current CUSA member Sam Houston. 

In 2003, Delaware won their first and only FCS championship. The head coach of that team was one K.C. Keeler. A quarterback on that team was one Ryan Carty, backing up starter Andy Hall and later, future Super Bowl winner Joe Flacco. 

Keeler is also an alum of the University of Delaware. Keeler would take the Blue Hens to two more title games in 2007 and 2010.

When Keeler would move on to coach Sam Houston in 2013, he would later reunite with his backup QB Carty. This time, Carty would join Keeler's staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2018 to 2021. The two won an FCS national championship together with the Bearkats in the shortened spring season of 2021. The fall FCS season of 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Carty was hired as his alma mater's head coach prior to the 2022 season. He's 17-8 thus far in that position. In his introductory press conference, Carty noted Keeler as an important coaching influence on him.

"I learned so much from Coach Keeler, especially how to manage people and how to deal with the day-to-day troubles that might pop up," Carty said. "How people feel when they leave a conversation with you is a lot more important than what you say to them."

For now, the Blue Hens still have an FCS playoffs campaign to worry about. They face #2 Montana on ESPN+ on December 2 at 9 PM.