Brian Kelly

[23andCounting]

If you're a Top 5 program...........Florida perhaps and Penn State, you probably don't trust this guy. What about a Top 5-10 program, do you jump all over this guy? Certainly any program ranking 10-25 should consider going after him. We all know this guy can coach. Does it come down to the guys your hire or is it more about the players not relating to him. Wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this. 

[Irishman]

Interesting question. I think he is in a tough spot. He is 64 years old. Find a program that will invest to the extent that Indiana has, and maybe he can get it going.

Regardless of the program, it's a risk hiring someone at 64. Is he in it for a long haul? Or just the next couple of years? 

He has baggage I am not sure he can escape. No chance an SEC school hires him. The biggest issue he has was that he left ND because it was too difficult to recruit to the point the program could compete for National championships and then leaves for LSU and does worse than he did at Notre Dame; at the same time his replacement has ND competing for National championships. 

I can see him ending up somewhere east. he is a Boston native and may be looking in that area. 

Last issue is does he want to keep coaching? His severance deal was pretty sweet. 

[PDB26]

4 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

If you're a Top 5 program...........Florida perhaps and Penn State, you probably don't trust this guy. What about a Top 5-10 program, do you jump all over this guy? Certainly any program ranking 10-25 should consider going after him. We all know this guy can coach. Does it come down to the guys your hire or is it more about the players not relating to him. Wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this.  

I thought BK was a guy who would thrive in the NIL/rev share world, but maybe it’s more important than ever to have a coach that will get guys to run through a wall for him. Never got the sense that he loved the game as much as he loved what it afforded him. He’s the anti-Harbaugh. He’s 64 now. I thought I heard he’s negotiating with LSU on the buyout, which makes me wonder if he wants to play golf and will accept a lesser guaranteed amount in exchange for LSU releasing him from his obligation to get another job.

I think he’d do well at any Big Ten school that has expectations between an 8-4 floor and 10-2 ceiling. MSU feels like a sure-thing BK project, but, like I said above, I’m not sure his heart is in it. If he did coach there they’d have to hold his feet to the fire a little bit on recruiting otherwise he’s gonna be on the golf course or at Diamond Lake.

[GOLDRUSH1985]

Don't think anyone touches him , If I were an AD I wouldn't . BK should just ride off into the sunset with his 50 million . 

[PDB26]

1 minute ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

Don't think anyone touches him , If I were an AD I wouldn't . BK should just ride off into the sunset with his 50 million . 

He can’t.

[PHJIrish]

41 minutes ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

Don't think anyone touches him , If I were an AD I wouldn't . BK should just ride off into the sunset with his 50 million . 

I don't believe that BK even has the personality to be a TV commentator.  IMO, LSU got what they deserved!

[23andCounting]

Didn't Kelly lead LSU to an SEC title game? Or am I mistaken. I fell into that trap of "liking" Kelly when he was "our" coach at Notre Dame. I think all fan bases fall victim to that. Turns out, the guy really isn't that likable. Makes a lot of excuses when his team loses. But, at the end of the day, the guy is still capable of leading a team. He did it for 11 years at Notre Dame. Someone name 6 or 7 candidates who are better than Kelly at this point. Hell, what would Florida have to lose? What would Penn State have to lose? Not that those schools have any interest in taking LSU's leftovers. UCLA? They'd be mentally insane not to call Brian Kelly.

[GOLDRUSH1985]

Don't know why he would want to coach anymore . When he was coaching , he spent more time on the golf coarse than coaching. How many times did we hear (We have to coach better)after a loss ?It's hard to coach better from a golf coarse . Just don't know why at his age he would want the stress of coaching . He is set financially for the rest of his life . 

[Komets2727]

I don’t think a top level program touches him. Virginia Tech, Michigan State if it comes open, maybe even Vanderbilt should there coach leave. Doubt Penn State is interested, maybe UCLA???

Edited October 31, 2025 by Komets2727

[temptation]

Solid coach, fraudulent human being.

[PDB26]

17 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

I don’t think a top level program touches him. Virginia Tech, Michigan State if it comes open, maybe even Vanderbilt should there coach leave. Doubt Penn State is interested, maybe UCLA???

Man, I don’t know if anyone will ever win at UCLA. That said, given the local amenities, I would imagine he’d be very interested in the job if LSU doesn’t pony up a solid lump to get him to go away forever.

55 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Didn't Kelly lead LSU to an SEC title game? Or am I mistaken. I fell into that trap of "liking" Kelly when he was "our" coach at Notre Dame. I think all fan bases fall victim to that. Turns out, the guy really isn't that likable. Makes a lot of excuses when his team loses. But, at the end of the day, the guy is still capable of leading a team. He did it for 11 years at Notre Dame. Someone name 6 or 7 candidates who are better than Kelly at this point. Hell, what would Florida have to lose? What would Penn State have to lose? Not that those schools have any interest in taking LSU's leftovers. UCLA? They'd be mentally insane not to call Brian Kelly.

I think it’s safe to say that he fought and won a lot of political battles that allowed ND to come back to true, consistent relevance. The program, facilities, and mindset came a long way during his 11 years, and his sudden departure helped to spur more changes that make ND a good job again. He was rarely likable, but mostly competent in a way that ND’s coaches had failed to be basically in my life time. I think he’s taken a big professional hit that’s probably going to keep him from landing a job at Florida or anywhere in the SEC. He’s been found out, by everyone else, as a guy who won’t grind. Penn State basically fired the same guy this year, so there’s no way there. 

[PDB26]

36 minutes ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

Don't know why he would want to coach anymore . When he was coaching , he spent more time on the golf coarse than coaching. How many times did we hear (We have to coach better)after a loss ?It's hard to coach better from a golf coarse . Just don't know why at his age he would want the stress of coaching . He is set financially for the rest of his life . 

I guess it will just depend on how important the LSU money is to him. As you said, he’s set for life, but I’ll be interested to see what they end up settling on if he doesn’t want to have to find a new job.

[Irishman]

1 hour ago, 23andCounting said:

Didn't Kelly lead LSU to an SEC title game? Or am I mistaken. 

His first year, 2022, they finished the regular season 9-3 (6-2 in the conference). They lost to Georgia in the SEC title game 50-30. Blew Purdue out 63-7 in the Citrus Bowl. 

[Komets2727]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

Solid coach, fraudulent human being.

I agree with this statement. Definitely not a grinder as a coach and he is one who doesn’t accept responsibility for his team or his actions. I could see UCLA being desperate enough to become somewhat relevant in the Big 10 to make a reach to him. Frankly, UCLA will not be relevant in the Big 10 as they are a bottom 5 team in that conference. USC is a different story. They have the #1  ranked class in the country next year and they are coming…

[GOLDRUSH1985]

I honestly don't know why we're even talking about this arrogant scumbag. He was responsible for the death of an ND student . Then when Kyren Lacy took is own life , Kelly never reached out to his family at all . No text no call , nothing, simply disgusting . LSU is now getting recruits that want to play there since Kelly is gone . 

Edited October 31, 2025 by GOLDRUSH1985

[23andCounting]

3 minutes ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

I honestly don't know why we're even talking about this arrogant scumbag. He was responsible for the death of an ND student . Then when Kyren Lacy took is own life , Kelly never reached out to his family at all . No text no call , nothing, simply disgusting . LSU is now getting recruits that want to play their since Kelly is gone . 

Like I said, human nature to overlook certain things when you're part of the fan base. It's like the abusive relationship. Everyone sees it except for the victim. I'm not going to go as far as blaming Kelly for the death of the ND student. But I am starting to see how he blames everyone but himself for the lack of his success. It all starts at the top. Now, if it was LSU's AD who hired the coordinators without Kelly's input, then Kelly may have an axe to grind. I'm pretty sure those hiring decisions are ultimately made or approved by the head coach though. So yeah, I think most head coaches have to point the finger at themselves. The only gripe are things out of their control. NIL money for a college, enrollment for a high school. To be fair though, enrollment complaints are only reserved for 6A. The other classes are balanced. 

[temptation]

1 hour ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

I honestly don't know why we're even talking about this arrogant scumbag. He was responsible for the death of an ND student . Then when Kyren Lacy took is own life , Kelly never reached out to his family at all . No text no call , nothing, simply disgusting . LSU is now getting recruits that want to play there since Kelly is gone . 

So unauthentic.

[GOLDRUSH1985]

13 minutes ago, temptation said:

So unauthentic.

What Part ?

[temptation]

58 minutes ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

What Part ?

What you mentioned above, along with his cringy fake southern accent at his intro speech.

And don’t even get me started on the videos and photos taken with recruits, lol.

[Bash Riprock]

what program wouldn't want this from their head coach??

[Impartial_Observer]

3 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

what program wouldn't want this from their head coach??

Grown ass man…..allegedly!

[23andCounting]

15 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

Grown ass man…..allegedly!

Desperate to gain favor to recruits. Like Temp said. Unauthentic. That strategy never works, always backfires. Be you.

[GOLDRUSH1985]

Anyone notice how much BK looks to have aged in just 4 years in Baton Rouge? Looks like he aged 10 years . 

[Muda69]

Now Mr. Kelly has filed a lawsuit over LSU's contract buyout:  https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/brian-kelly-lsu-tigers-coach-contract-buyout-settlement/

Quote

Two weeks after firing Brian Kelly, LSU is still in a standoff with its former football coach over the terms of his buyout. 

Kelly's contract -- a 10-year, $95 million deal -- calls for him to be paid 90% of his remaining salary for the life of his contract, which would put LSU on the hook for close to $54 million in the form of monthly payments to Kelly through 2031. 

LSU wanted to negotiate a smaller payment to Kelly that would give the coach a significant payout up front, but save the program money in the long run. The benefit to Kelly would be getting the money in one lump sum and LSU would remove mitigation language for future earnings from coaching. However, those negotiations have not yielded a new agreement. 

According to documents obtained by the Baton Rouge Advocate, Kelly's lawyers sent a letter to new athletic director Verge Ausberry on Nov. 5 indicating his expectation that the school will pay his "full liquidated damages," meaning the full $54 million buyout. Kelly showed a willingness to engage in such conversations immediately after his firing, but rejected offers of $25 million and $30 million that were presented to him -- first by then-athletic director Scott Woodward and later by executive deputy athletic director Julie Cromer. Since Woodward's firing after a fiery press conference from Louisiana governor Jeff Landry, talks have apparently stalled. 

....

This is just LSU trying to get off cheap, something probably any other D1 school would also try with a buyout this large.

 

Edited November 11, 2025 by Muda69

[Bash Riprock]

On 10/30/2025 at 7:49 PM, 23andCounting said:

Didn't Kelly lead LSU to an SEC title game? Or am I mistaken. I fell into that trap of "liking" Kelly when he was "our" coach at Notre Dame. I think all fan bases fall victim to that. Turns out, the guy really isn't that likable. Makes a lot of excuses when his team loses. But, at the end of the day, the guy is still capable of leading a team. He did it for 11 years at Notre Dame. Someone name 6 or 7 candidates who are better than Kelly at this point. Hell, what would Florida have to lose? What would Penn State have to lose? Not that those schools have any interest in taking LSU's leftovers. UCLA? They'd be mentally insane not to call Brian Kelly.

I can't see Penn State going anywhere near him.  They'd be way better off with a rising, younger coach.  

They could bring back this "superstar" 🤪