Brian Kelly was one of three top names on the original list drawn up by the University of Notre Dame.The others were Bob Stoops, coach of Oklahoma, and Urban Meyer of Florida.
Meyer took himself right out of consideration and Stoops, after brief consideration, also withdrew. That left Kelly as the clear front-runner, but by no means the definite pick.
Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes also came under consideration. If there is still to be a last-minute shock, it will be Ferentz..
But that is highly unlikely. Kelly has pursued the job since the moment it became clear current Notre Dame football Charlie Weis was about to be fired. Cincinnati pays him $1.4M a year, and they were very slow to up the ante to keep him as coach.
At Notre Dame, he will earn many multiple times that. Cincinnati may only have themselves to blame by not offering Kelly a huge increase to keep him with the Bearcats.
If Meyer was available, the job would have been his. If Stoops had ruled himself in, it would have been a close pick, but neither man made the moves that Notre Dame wanted to see.
Kelly did. He came across as hungry, committed, dedicated and above all, in tune with Notre Dame values and tradition.
That will stand him in good stead under the Golden Dome.
11 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.kinsalelad | Dec 28, 2009, 09:11 AM EST
CINCINNATI HAD NO POSSIBLE CHANCE TO KEEP KELLY FROM GOING TO SOUTH BEND,AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR A LEAGUE TO FINE AN INDEPENDENT TEAM FOR INTERVIEWING A COACH AT ANY TIME. THIS WAS NOT EVEN REMOTELY A CONTEST FOR KELLY'S SERVICES. LET THE BIG DOG EAT!!
michaelOgCollin | Dec 17, 2009, 11:32 AM EST
Brian Kelly was approached by ND last December(2208,that is)about whether he would be interested in the position if it become available. He told them "NO, not at this time". Brian Kelly was the only one considered to replace Weis; any other names like Stoops, Meyer or Ferentz were a smokescreen by the ND PR machine to throw the media dogs off the scent of Kelly, who didn't want to announce his decision till after the Pitt game.
edwardkeating | Dec 11, 2009, 05:57 PM EST
Sean O' Shea you called it right. Brian Kelly the next ND coach. It even sounds IRISH. All ND fans should let Brian Kelly do his thing, as a COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH. Look what he did for Cincinnati from a no WIN team to 34-6 in three seasons, back to back Big East titles and two straight BCS berths. Let Brian Kelly COACH and RECURIT for NOTRE DAME and hopefully bring back the GLORY and wake up the echoes and shake down the thunder and bring NOTRE DAME back to BCS bowl games and a NATIONAL TITLE.
cchseal2 | Dec 10, 2009, 06:41 PM EST
I THINK THE LEAGUE SHOULD FINE SCHOOLS THAT GO AFTER A SCHOOLS COACH BEFORE THEIR SEASON IS COMPLETE AND THAT SHOULD INCLUDE BOWL GAMES
Lobotc2dfw | Dec 10, 2009, 02:56 AM EST
You folks are not a credible site in the least when it comes to football. Give it up.
JosephOCasey | Dec 09, 2009, 08:37 PM EST
I thought you made a pronouncement stating that It's Official! Brian Kelly WILL coach Notre Dame. Why are you backpedalling now? Could it be that you really don't have any reliable sources? Nah!
thurles4 | Dec 09, 2009, 05:57 PM EST
hey, idiots guess who was thefirst to predict that Kelly was going to Notre Dame--after the USC game no less-- Sean O'Shea-- he has not been wrong yet so stick that in your fundament
raabeye | Dec 09, 2009, 04:54 PM EST
Wow. It must have been really cool for you to sit through- first hand- the coaching search and the contract negotiations to hire BK. I feel so grateful to have found the one guy who was so intimately involved in all of this. Great writing!
Middleman | Dec 09, 2009, 04:52 PM EST
I still think Sean O'Shea has a woody for Coach Kelly and is wishing it comes true. Sean for real man, You write for a small website, do you really think we believe you or your "sources"?
DavidJon | Dec 09, 2009, 12:21 PM EST
I think Notre Dame has a proven track record of screwing up this new football coach thing. I still have my "I love Ty" t-shirt. Brian Kelly will bring his own baggage to South Bend that will impede him. I couldn't help but notice his players jawing at him on the sideline during Cincy's game with Pitt last Saturday. Not a good sign. He's just another opportunistic coach looking for a big payday. And ND is so desperate to be back in the thick of things it will sell it's very soul to try to get there. Good luck!
goofball | Dec 09, 2009, 12:14 PM EST
First post!