Brian Kelly is Notre Dame’s new head Coach

On Wednesday, the hot name involved with the vacancy seemed to be current Connecticut coach, Randy Edsall. Even though Irish officials were in contact with Edsall, he was plan B for Jack Swarbrick in case Kelly decided to back out and return to the Bearcats.

According to several media outlets and ESPN, Brian Kelly has informed his team that he will indeed be the next head coach at Notre Dame.

Calling an official team meeting an hour before the scheduled start time of Cincinnati’s season banquet, Kelly met with his players as a group for the last time, informing the team of his decision. Just hours before, Cincinnati officials informed the media that Kelly had requested that they were held out of the banquet for privacy.

Kelly, who has led Cincinnati to a 12-0 record this year, was so obviously the right choice. Notre Dame, the “it” program for so many years, finally hired a coach with the “it” factor.

While all were competent football men, Bob Davie, George O’Leary (for five days), Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis did not have “it.”

Kelly is the dial-a-coach do-over for losing Urban Meyer to Florida in 2005. Notre Dame really, really wanted Meyer after he led Utah to 12-0 in 2004. Meyer was a former Notre Dame assistant and was named after a pope. School officials, in hot pursuit, raced through Salt Lake City in the company car but were outmaneuvered by the Gatormobile.

Settling for Weis, who just wrapped up a 35-27 career, was just that. Meyer has led Florida to two national titles while Notre Dame has been paying the price.

Kelly will be without the star quarterback Jimmy Clausen and the dynamic receiver Golden Tate, both of whom declared for the N.F.L. draft this week.

He’s going to have an uphill battle at South Bend, but thats what he does and thats why they hired him

Popularity: 1%