LSU SNARES KELLY AWAY FROM NOTRE DAME
LSU is hiring Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame, a stunning move by one of the most accomplished coaches in college football jumping from the sport’s most storied program to an Southeastern Conference powerhouse.
Kelly confirmed the move in a Team Works message to his players on Monday night before meeting them in person this morning.
It was the second bombshell in college football in as many days, coming a little more than 24 hours after USC lured Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma. LSU might have topped it by landing Kelly.
The 60-year-old Kelly became the winningest coach in Notre Dame history earlier this season, surpassing Knute Rockne. In 12 seasons with the Fighting Irish, Kelly is 113-40, including the current run of five straight double-digit victory seasons.
Notre Dame just completed an 11-1 season on Saturday and still is in contention to reach the College Football Playoff for the third time in the last four years.
LSU’s coaching search started in October, when it reached an agreement to part ways with coach Ed Orgeron at the end of the season.
More coaching news
Washington hired Fresno State’s Kalen DeBoer to lead the Huskies, handing a program that has struggled offensively to a coach with a track record of productive and creative offenses. The 47-year-old DeBoer met with Washington officials in Fresno early in the day and the deal was announced a few hours later. DeBoer is replacing Jimmy Lake,
who was fired on Nov. 14 after just 13 games coached.
• SMU hired Rhett Lashlee
as its new head coach, bringing back its former offensive coordinator to replace Sonny Dykes.
Lashlee had been Miami’s offensive coordinator for two seasons after serving in the same role for the Mustangs during Dykes’ first two seasons in 2018 and 2019.
• Boston College coach Jeff Hafley agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Chestnut Hill through 2026. The Eagles (6-6, 2-6 ACC) qualified for a bowl game for the second straight year despite finishing the regular season with back-to-back losses, including a 41-10 loss to No. 18 Wake Forest on Saturday.
• Dino Babers (Morse High graduate) will return for the 2022 season, his seventh, Syracuse Athletic Director John Wildhack said. The announcement came a day after Babers fired three assistants, including offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert after just two seasons. Syracuse finished 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the ACC.
• Temple fired Rod Carey after three seasons with the school, ending a tenure that started with a bowl game and finished with a combined two conference wins in the last two seasons.
• Delaware fired Danny Rocco after the Blue Hens went 5-6 this season.
Notable
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, a preseason All-American who lost the starting job early in the season, announced on social media that he will enter the transfer portal.