Dan Kelly's focus is trained on the step ahead rather than those behind.

It's an approach that comes in handy in the life of a kicker.

“;You learn from something, you leave the bad, and you take the good,”; Kelly said.

“;I've always been like that when it came to sports. I've really made it something to live by.”;

Kelly's senior season has been a roller-coaster ride that has reinforced his outlook in dealing with adulation and frustration.

Kelly will close out his Hawaii career in Wednesday's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, completing it against Notre Dame four years after beginning his campaign against USC as a freshman.

“;It's been a learning experience,”; said Kelly, whose 332 points ranks third on UH's career scoring list. “;With everything, whether good or bad, it's got to be a learning experience. I learned a lot, so I feel like it was a success.”;

Kelly provided two of the signature moments in UH's Sugar Bowl run in 2007 with last-second kicks against Louisiana Tech and Nevada, earning him the “;Iceman”; moniker.

He then scored Hawaii's first points of this season with a 30-yard field goal late in UH's lopsided loss to Florida. Then came a 1-for-5 stretch as the Warriors struggled to a 1-3 start.

He then played a key role in the team's turnaround by hitting a career-high four field goals, including the game-winner in overtime, in the Warriors' victory over then-No. 22 Fresno State. The rousing road victory began a run of six wins over the next eight games that secured the Warriors a berth in the Hawaii Bowl.

But there would be another dip ahead as he converted one field goal in seven attempts in a four-game stretch.

He then closed the regular season by converting on his lone opportunity against Cincinnati to enter the postseason at 10-for-20 on field goals. He's 38-for-40 on extra points, bringing his PAT total to a school-record 197.

“;He definitely keeps his composure through everything,”; said long snapper Jake Ingram, who spends most of practice with Kelly and punter Tim Grasso. “;He doesn't get depressed or he doesn't get overly cocky if he's having a good stretch.”;

Kelly's specialized skill means often having to self-diagnose when working through those rough stretches without over-analyzing his leg swing.

“;Basically, any adjustment I have to make I have to watch film, identify it and change it,”; said Kelly, who had a solid day kicking the ball in yesterday's practice at Saint Louis School.

“;It's a tough task—it's nothing I'm not used to. This year it just hit me harder than usual.”;

Kelly was more of a soccer enthusiast than a football fan growing up. But an ankle injury as a junior at Linfield Christian School in Temecula, Calif., made football the more viable option as he looked toward college.

“;Football was where I was supposed to be and where God put me,”; Kelly said. “;I accepted it, and I love kicking.”;

Just as Kelly keeps his concentration on the kicks ahead of him, he's also looking forward to what awaits after the Hawaii Bowl.

He plans to see if there's a future kicking in the professional ranks; if not, he's hoping to one day establish a soccer academy to help develop the game in the U.S.

“;I'm going to take my shot at it and see where it takes me. But we have one more game and I'm focused in on that,”; Kelly said. “;I'm enjoying the idea of moving on with my life, whether it's more football in a different environment or it's a real job.”;