LSU head coach Brian Kelly’s former school is playing for a national championship on Monday.
Notre Dame faces Ohio State for the title inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Following their loss to Northern Illinois, the Fighting Irish rattled off 13 straight victories, including over Indiana and Penn State in the College Football Playoffs.
Current Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman joined Notre Dame as Kelly’s defensive coordinator in 2021. At the time of Freeman’s hiring, he was one of the hottest names in coaching. It didn’t take him long to ascend to the head role.
The 2021 coaching carousel was a chaotic one. Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU and Freeman was promoted.
In Freeman’s short time as Notre Dame head coach, the Irish have sustained the success they had under Kelly.
Here’s why Kelly should get some credit for the national championship berth.
Kelly turned Notre Dame around
The Fighting Irish were coming off their worst three-year stretch in some time when Kelly was hired. Through his 12 years in South Bend, Kelly compiled seven records of 10 or more wins and coached 55 NFL Draft picks, including 10 first-rounders.
In his third season, Kelly led the Fighting Irish to the 2012 BCA national championship and College Football Playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020. He ended his tenure as the program’s winningest coach with 113 victories. Without the restoration to its former glory, Notre Dame may not be in the position it is right now.
Kelly hired Freeman
Freeman’s tenure as the defensive coordinator was short-lived due to Kelly’s departure. Interestingly enough, Freeman interviewed for the same position under former Tigers coach Ed Orgeron in 2021 before taking the job at Notre Dame.
Kelly saw Freeman’s potential following the latter’s stint at Cincinnati, bringing him into the Power Four. After one season, he received the promotion and hasn’t looked back.
Recruiting
Kelly built the No. 12 recruiting class in 2021 and No. 6 for the 2022 cycle. The Fighting Irish attracted 30 four-star prospects between both classes, including tight end Mitchell Evans and running back Jadarion Price. Kelly also brought in defenders Xavier Watts from the 2020 class as well as Howard Cross and Jack Kieser in 2019, both of whom played three years under Kelly and remained with Notre Dame after he left.
Freeman retained integral pieces from these classes, which he deserves credit for in a college football landscape involving NIL and the transfer portal. But Kelly built the foundation.