Brian Kelly has left the University of Notre Dame to become the next head football coach at LSU.
Kelly, in his 12th season at Notre Dame, became the winningest coach in Notre Dame history with 92 victories earlier this season.
He guided Notre Dame to the BCS title game in 2012 and to College Football Playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020.
Notre Dame is currently ranked 6th in the CFP poll and still has a chance to make the College Football Playoff.
Kelly is replacing Ed Orgeron, who LSU announced earlier this season, would not return next year. Kelly will receive a 10-year, $95 million contract, plus incentives, according to LSU.
Kelly met with players for about ten minutes on Tuesday morning before saying goodbye and heading to Baton Rouge.
Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick says Kelly will not be coaching the Irish in their upcoming bowl game, whether it be in the College Football Playoff or otherwise.
Swarbrick said he was just as surprised as everyone else when it was discovered he took the LSU job.
“He did not discuss with me the conversations he had with other universities,” Swarbrick said. “We always are talking about the program’s needs and there was not anything identified at any time.”
Swarbrick recognized that after 11 seasons “there had to be an endpoint” under Kelly. He credited Kelly for rebuilding the Notre Dame football program back into the best position it’s been in decades. As for who will continue to build off of Kelly’s foundation, Swarbrick said there is no timetable yet on who will be the next head coach.
“When we find the right person who we think can lead this program and have the right conversations with him, that’s all that matters,” said Swarbrick. “I will lead that search (not a search committee). We will take the lead.”
Swarbrick clarified that whoever is appointed interim head coach if they appoint an interim head coach, that person will likely not be a candidate for the permanent job.
Swarbrick also said since the coaching staff operates well, an interim coach would not be appointed, for now.
Just now Brian Kelly messaged Notre Dame’s roster in Team Works that “I will be leaving Notre Dame.”
The plan is for Kelly to meet with the team tomorrow at 7 a.m.
Here is the full message pic.twitter.com/sqAl2txZIy
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 30, 2021
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Good for him! $100 million over 10 years is nothing to sneeze at. That’s a lot of money to be part of a circus. Cicero wants to know how the bread is coming along…