May 18, 2010 9:05:19 AM

Columbia defensive coordinator and NCAA Expert Coaches Forum graduate Aaron Kelton was announced Monday as Williams' head football coach.

Kelton, who becomes the eighth ethnic-minority and seventh African-American head football coach in Division III, succeeds Mike Whalen, who left Williams to return to coach his alma mater, Wesleyan (Connecticut).

Kelton has been Columbia's defensive coordinator for the last two seasons after having served the two previous seasons as secondary coach.

"The search committee was impressed with Aaron's energy and passion for teaching the game to young men, and this passion resonated with people on our campus throughout the process," said Williams AD Harry Sheehy. "He'll be a tireless teacher, coach and recruiter. Current and future Eph football players will be inspired and challenged to reach for their potential under Aaron's tutelage. It's with much enthusiasm that we call on him to carry forward the great tradition that is Williams football."

That tradition was a key attraction for Kelton.

"We'll work hard and do what needs to be done," he said. "The goal every year will be to go 8-0."

Kelton inherits a Williams team that returns 18 of 22 starters from a 6-2 season in 2009. Next year's schedule includes the traditional season-ending "Little Three" games vs. Wesleyan and Amherst.

Kelton graduated from Springfield College in 1992 with a B.S. in psychology and lettered all four years for the Pride in football, starting two years at quarterback.

Kelton received NFL summer internships that enabled him to serve on the staffs at Indianapolis in 2007, Jacksonville in 2008 and Arizona in 2009.

Kelton is currently working on completing a master's degree in integrated studies from Virginia State.