Coaching Carousel

[Southside Sully]

As of now, The Athletic report (which is Sampson's tweet) is that LSU is interested in Kelly. There has not yet been a report that actual talks are taking place.

Sounds like BK seeing all these raises, same with his agent and the source (agent) leaks it to the media to get BK some more cash

 

[Wild Bill]

My extension searching theory missed one guy: BK! Lol.

given how the last blue blood to blue blood happened with Lincoln so quickly and unexpectedly, the odds every outlet would have the scoop on this would seem rather unlikely

Did that Lincoln move happen quick or was it just a really well kept secret? Sincerely asking . Would be shocked if a deal that big happeend over the last few days but it's equally shocking for them to keep it as quiet as they did.

 

[irishff1014]

This sucks. If Kelly does take the money I hope Freeman gets the job. Smart young coach that is well spoken.

 

[EvilleIrish]

This sucks. If Kelly does take the money I hope Freeman gets the job. Smart young coach that is well spoken.

Freeman is such a risk. Has all of one year as a coordinator at the power 5 level.

 

[irishff1014]

Maybe both? LSU is in real danger of being left without a chair when the music stops during this unprecedentedly crazy coaching carousel. Mel Tucker just got $95 million guaranteed at MSU. LSU will likely be throwing out some truly stupid numbers to get a good hire.

I can't imagine Kelly would ruin his legacy here or the alleged succession plan we've been discussing by jumping to LSU for a larger paycheck, but he may feel duty-bound to pass it onto Swarbrick for the benefit of his assistants.

Or LSU could pay him more than that.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If you're worried about this, there are 284 comments in the /r/cfb thread on Sampson's tweet and the vast majority of them are deriding this as completely unrealistic.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Or LSU could pay him more than that.

More than what? No one knows what Kelly's total compensation package is, but it's been competitive enough to keep him here 11 years. Coaching salaries have recently surged unsustainably, which Kelly's agent may be using to shake ND down for more money, but aside from MOAR MUNNY, this move would make zero sense.

There's generally gotta be a significant push to complement the pull (like OU's decision to join the SEC) in order to force a lateral move among top-tier programs. In this case, I see no push factors from ND's side. Just a very successful and happy coach who's preparing to retire and solidify his legacy here.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I want fickell if Kelly jumps

 

[Dizzyphil]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1465445608345509895[/TWEET]

 

[ACamp1900]

I want fickell if Kelly jumps

Yes. Tho if this freeman thing is true I wouldn’t be angry… I’ll give it an honest shot

 

[notredomer23]

None of it makes sense without LSU making BK the top earner by a wide margin. At that point wouldn’t even be mad if he left because they offered him something ridiculous like $15MM/year.

 

[Dale]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/38godfrey/status/1465453049086976008?s=21[/TWEET]

Godfrey’s cryptic stuff is annoying when it’s you’re team

 

[IrishRazor82]

BK's total package is ~$7 Million. He built one of the most complex programs from the ground up and made us a perennial CFB playoff contendor.

There is clearly a new going rate (not surprising with where inflation is headed), and there's no reason an unproven HC at MSU is making $3 M more per year.

Pay the man - and give him any upgrades he thinks are necessary. He's earned it.

 

[ACamp1900]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1465445608345509895[/TWEET]

If this happens tho,… jeebus. Lose a top coordinator to a sec middling then lose a head coach to LSU?? Idk how I’d digest that…

 

[Wild Bill]

If you're worried about this, there are 284 comments in the /r/cfb thread on Sampson's tweet and the vast majority of them are deriding this as completely unrealistic.

Half the posts are virgins talking about which super model they are targeting as their next gf.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

On the other hand, if it's already been decided that Freeman is the future at ND, and LSU is offering to double his salary for the next three years, it might make sense to shorten the time table and pass the torch now. I'd really hate to see Kelly retire elsewhere, but it's hard to argue with the kind of money LSU is offering.

 

[NorthDakota]

If this happens tho,… jeebus. Lose a top coordinator to a sec middling then lose a head coach to LSU?? Idk how I’d digest that…

I would just accept that Notre Dame will never accomplish what I want in my lifetime.

Has ND ever lost a head coach to another school? Lol

 

[rtrn2glory]

On the other hand, if it's already been decided that Freeman is the future at ND, and LSU is offering to double his salary for the next three years, it might make sense to shorten the time table and pass the torch now. I'd really hate to see Kelly retire elsewhere, but it's hard to argue with the kind of money LSU is offering.

So LSU is poaching Freeman? What did I miss?

 

[greyhammer90]

Never say never but I don't see it barring them doing something crazy like agreeing to pay him $20 million per year.

Kelly seems so comfortable and has such a good rapport with administration and Swarbrick that I have a hard time seeing it.

 

[ACamp1900]

Honestly I’m surprised lsu would even go there,… it’s not like they’d lock him up for a decade plus, he’s 60,… seems like an odd choice. I’d want someone younger if I were lsu

 

[notredomer23]

I would just accept that Notre Dame will never accomplish what I want in my lifetime.

Has ND ever lost a head coach to another school? Lol

Ty Willingham to Washington heh

 

[Huntr]

If Kelly goes to LSU, more power to him. ND football is in a great spot, LSU would have to pay him a ton to get him and ND would have their pick of coaches.

Or, ND can bump him to $12m per year and give him whatever else he is asking for and we keep him.

Either way works for ND, IMO.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Honestly I’m surprised lsu would even go there,… it’s not like they’d lock him up for a decade plus, he’s 60,… seems like an odd choice. I’d want someone younger if I were lsu

They're desperate. I'd assume LSU sent out some feelers to BK's camp floating some stupid numbers, which BK's agent dutifully leaked in order to get his client more money from ND. But as you've alluded to, BK and LSU wouldn't be a good fit for a number of reasons. I'm gonna need to see a lot more smoke on this before I start getting nervous.

 

[greyhammer90]

On the other hand, if it's already been decided that Freeman is the future at ND, and LSU is offering to double his salary for the next three years, it might make sense to shorten the time table and pass the torch now. I'd really hate to see Kelly retire elsewhere, but it's hard to argue with the kind of money LSU is offering.

I know this is the new pet theory, but I really hate the Freeman as "HC in waiting" theory. Why would ND settle for Freeman after this year if Fickel is out there? It just seems totally unrealistic to imagine that ND was so completely bought into this one coordinator that they agreed to create this massive plan for his entire future before he ever even coached a ballgame for them.

 

[IrishRazor82]

I'm fine wirh Freeman as HC. The list of coordinators who became successful and title winning HC's is longer than ppl think.

 

[Wild Bill]

On the other hand, if it's already been decided that Freeman is the future at ND, and LSU is offering to double his salary for the next three years, it might make sense to shorten the time table and pass the torch now. I'd really hate to see Kelly retire elsewhere, but it's hard to argue with the kind of money LSU is offering.

Gotta wonder if an unexpected early departure would change ND's succession plan, assuming one is in place. Freeman's got a year of P5 experience as a coordinator and Fickell is hanging out at Cincy waiting for ND or OSU to call.

I'm not opposed to Freeman nor am I sold on Fickell. Just think it's something ND would have to consider if kelly leaves this year.

 

[Riddickulous]

Hire Fickell and keep Freeman on as DC.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I know this is the new pet theory, but I really hate the Freeman as "HC in waiting" theory. Why would ND settle for Freeman after this year if Fickel is out there? It just seems totally unrealistic to imagine that ND was so completely bought into this one coordinator that they agreed to create this massive plan for his entire future before he ever even coached a ballgame for them.

I agree there's not much precedent for such an arrangement, but Kelly's tenure at ND also doesn't have much precedent among top-flight CFB teams. I could easily see Swarbrick working with Kelly to manage his legacy and retire gracefully. Identifying the coach-in-waiting and having him ready to take the reins at a predetermined date makes sense under those circumstances.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I would just accept that Notre Dame will never accomplish what I want in my lifetime.

Has ND ever lost a head coach to another school? Lol

Knute Rockne was supposedly looking at going to USC before his death.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

The problem with hiring Fickell is that there's a good chance he's going into the playoff.