Brian Kelly has been announced as the new Notre Dame football coach but the formal announcement will happen at a news conference on Friday. Kelly, 48, replaces Charlie Weis who was dismissed as the Notre Dame coach last Monday. The incoming Notre Dame coach has been the coach at the University of Cincinnati since December of 2006.
Brian Kelly was born in Everett, Massachusetts which is just outside of Boston. At the University of Cincinnati held a 34-6 record in three years. In 2009, Cincinnati was unranked in the polls, Kelly's Cincinnati Bearcats had 12 straight victories and finished the regular season undefeated. Going into the bowl season, they are ranked #3 in the BCS Standings and will face off against Florida in the Sugar Bowl.
The Chicago Tribune reported this week that Kelly would not coach the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl if hired by Notre Dame, and that associate head coach/defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs would be his likely replacement.
Recruiting is a major part of being a college football coach and it seems as if Kelly will be up to the task.
According to an article written by Jake Brown, Recruiting Analyst for Irish Illustrated, "Kelly has made forays into distant parts of the country, pulling players from California and New Jersey, among other places, but his efforts have concentrated on Ohio, Michigan and Indiana ... Make no mistake, Kelly has recruited well at Cincinnati. He's also never beaten out Ohio State for a player it offered or seriously targeted. James, the four-star tackle, would be the first. Winning on the recruiting trail against Ohio State is a must at Notre Dame. Going from New Jersey to California is a must, too. It's also something Kelly should be able to handle."
Brian Kelly is expected to inform his players of his decision to coach for Notre Dame on Thursday night at Cincinnati’s football banquet.
Written by Cheryl Phillips
HULIQ.com
sources: IrishIllustrated.com, NYT, ESPN
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