The University of Notre Dame has found their new head coach – Brian Kelly. Kelly coached the Cincinnati Bearcats to a perfect 13-0 record during the 2009 College Football season, good for a #3 ranking in the BCS Poll (#4 Associated Press Poll). Cincinnati is slated to play BCS #5 Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. It is unclear whether or not Kelly will coach the Bearcats in the bowl game, but it is unlikely that Notre Dame would have hired Kelly and allow him to coach the game. Notre Dame hired Kelly within 9 days of firing former Head Coach Charlie Weis (35-27 in 5 years as the Irish Head Coach; 1-2 in Bowl Games) and ND brass will likely want Kelly to get moving on recruiting for the 2010 season. It also makes sense given the University’s decision not to accept a bowl game bid this year. Bringing in a new coach, implementing a new system and dealing with the departures of starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen and starting wide receiver Golden Tate to the 2010 NFL Draft – it didn’t make sense for the Irish to practice for a “meaningless” bowl game.
Cincinnati has its annual football banquet tonight and the school has uninvited media to the event. Although neither the Kelly camp or the University of Notre Dame have confirmed the Kelly hiring, sources close to the story are stating that the deal will be announced at some point on Friday. Terms of the deal have nor been disclosed…
Tags: Brian Kelly, Charlie Weis
