The shockwaves of Lincoln Riley bolting Oklahoma for USC have not settled and another stunner on the college football coaching carousel. Brian Kelly is expected to leave Notre Dame for LSU and the SEC, according to multiple reports.
Kelly would replace Ed Orgeron, who won a national title with the Tigers but fell out of favor and came to an agreement to leave the Baton Rouge school during the season.
Sources: LSU is expecting to hire Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly as the school’s next head coach. An announcement could come as early as tomorrow.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 30, 2021
#LSU is hiring Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly as its next head coach, sources confirm to @SINow, as @PeteThamel reported.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 30, 2021
This isn't the first time #LSU has hired a coach from Notre Dame.
The last time it happened, in 2007, the Tigers plucked away Paul Mainieri.
In Baton Rouge, Mainieri went 641–283–3, won four SEC championships, six SEC tournaments and a national title.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 30, 2021
Kelly apparently had a chance of heart from what he said earlier this month.
Brian Kelly asked if he'd ever leave Notre Dame, aside from retirement: “No. I mean, look, I think Mike Tomlin had the best line, right? Unless that fairy godmother comes by with that $250M check, my wife would want to take a look at it first. I'd have to run it by her.”
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) November 22, 2021
Kelly’s record in South Bend is 113-40 in 12 seasons. The Irish are 11-1 in 2021 and in the thick of the College Football Playoff hunt, depending on what happens in the conference championship games this weekend.