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Brian Kelly (coach)

Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame to be next head football coach at LSU

Dan Wolken
USA TODAY

Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly will be the next college football coach at LSU in a surprise move that creates another huge coaching vacancy in this market.

The bombshell move marks the second consecuitve day in which a coach moved from one blueblood program to another following Lincoln Riley leaving Oklahoma for Southern California

Kelly’s decision to leave for LSU is even more shocking, given how well-established he has been at Notre Dame as the winningest coach in school history with a 113-40 record. Plus, 11-1 Notre Dame is still in contention for the College Football Playoff should one of the current contenders like Cincinnati, Michigan or Oklahoma State lose in their conference championship games. 

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Brian Kelly posted a 113-40 record during 12 seasons at Notre Dame.

Kelly has talked in the past about wanting to end his career at Notre Dame and even said last week in response to a question about leaving for another school: “I mean, look, I think Mike Tomlin had the best line, right? Unless the fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check, my wife would want to take a look at that first. I’d have to run it by her.” 

It has been well-known within the college athletics industry, however, that LSU planned to make a major splash with this hire after firing Ed Orgeron. Scott Woodward, the Tigers’ athletics director, has landed big names at his previous stops, luring Chris Petersen from Boise State to Washington and Jimbo Fisher from Florida State to Texas A&M.

Still, Kelly seemed like a long shot on the surface despite growing buzz earlier Monday that LSU planned to make a strong push for him. It appears those efforts have worked.

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