Kelly ready to bolt ND for LSU job
College football’s head coaching carousel is in full swing.
Brian Kelly, who has been Notre Dame’s head football coach for the last 12 years, is expected to take over the head coaching job at LSU, according to Yahoo Sports.
The move comes just days after Lincoln Riley, who coached Oklahoma for the past five years — including three trips to the College Football Playoff and four Big 12 titles — bolted to take USC’s head coach opening.
Ed Orgeron, who led the Tigers to the 2019-20 national championship, agreed to a separation deal with LSU in October, but finished the season in charge.
LSU reportedly offered Kelly a 10year deal that would exceed
$100 million
with incentives, according to The Athletic.
Kelly messaged his current players late Monday night, according to an image obtained
by the Athletic, and promised a full explanation in a 7 a.m. meeting Tuesday.
“Men… Let me first apologize for the late night text and, more importantly, for not being able to share the news with you in person that I will be leaving Notre Dame,” the message read. “I am flying back to South Bend tonight to be able to meet with you in the morning but the news broke late today and I am sorry you found out through social media or news reports.”
Kelly’s Fighting Irish finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and are currently No. 6 in both the College Football Playoff and AP rankings. Notre Dame could be invited to the CFP if conference title games go in its favor. Since it is not a part of a football conference, Notre Dame will not play a conference championship game.
Kelly recorded a 113-40 record in South Bend and a 5-5 record in bowl games, including a 42-14 loss to Alabama in the 2012-13 BCS Championship game and a 31-14 loss to Alabama in last January’s Rose Bowl.
Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff twice under Kelly’s stewardship, but lost in the semifinal both times — in 2018-19 against Clemson and last season’s loss to Alabama. Kelly leaves the program as its winningest coach of all time, surpassing the legendary Knute Rockne this season.