Who do you want to replace Brian Kelly?

[Irish8248]

I really wish we could be a little better about naming these threads if we are going to discuss such broad topics under them.

I understand that some people need to burn the house down, but personally I don't want anyone to replace Kelly and I bet a lot of other fans don't either. I want a new DC and some more consistent recruiting.

It doesn't always have to be all sunshine or all storms.

Agreed 100% .. I want the HH of DCs now. Blank check, incentive laden, whatever it takes to get that person

 

[IrishLax]

Haven't had time to read all 6 pages but...

Texas fires Charlie Strong and Strong goes to ND as DC?

Or head coach?

 

[BeauBenken]

Kind of defeats the point of my post saying 9 of 10 might not be interested, no?

Peterson
Patterson
Herman
Shaw
Mullen
Stoops
Petrino
Dantonio
Gundy
Schiano
Freeze
Whittingham
Fitzgerald
Cryst
Fleck
Jay Gruden
Josh McDaniels
Bill O'Brien
Mike McCoy
Jason Garret

I'd take literally any of those guys over Kelly right now.

Okay, so then take out the 9 you don't think would come here...or rather, just leave who you think is actually obtainable from that list.

I'm just trying to figure out who you think is a better option than Kelly and reasonably obtainable at the moment. I take your opinion seriously and want to hear what you're thinking.

I'm just going to go ahead and bold who on that list I think would actually give ND a listen, above a maybe.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Or head coach?

I don't think ND is there yet with Kelly...

 

[Circa]

Today on the radio they talked about ND fans wanting Kelly gone. Pretty weird because they rarely talk FBS or ND. The host thought anyone asking for Kelly to be gone better be careful what they wish for. I'm inclined to agree.

Who was It talking?

 

[Circa]

Or head coach?

NO!..... Geez

 

[BoredIrish]

Everyone knows who Wilcox is. He was highly thought of in Washington, but blamed a lot at SC. It's hard to know how much of the defense this year is him being good and how much is Aranda's work setting him up for success.

I occasionally listen to a USC podcast (especially after they lose games). USC fans HATED wilcox in a way very similar to how ND fans used to speak of BVG.

The one thing these past 4 weeks of ND football should have made clear to everyone is that there exists an elite upper echelon of college coaches... and everyone else just falls short. Amongst HC's there is Saban and Urban who are just in a league all to themselves.

As for DC's, it seems like Aranda might be of that caliber. Guys like Wilcox are a dime a dozen in my mind. Personally, I'm not interested in another mediocre DC. BK has one last shot to get this right... I want a home run hire.

 

[Circa]

I really wish we could be a little better about naming these threads if we are going to discuss such broad topics under them.

I understand that some people need to burn the house down, but personally I don't want anyone to replace Kelly and I bet a lot of other fans don't either. I want a new DC and some more consistent recruiting.

It doesn't always have to be all sunshine or all storms.

!!!

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

No matter what the ND record is after this season, anyone who wants BK gone is on drugs. If that happens, BK will laugh his ass off when he gets a better job and gets more wins at a school like LSU, USC, Texas, etc.

BK isn't perfect, he isn't Saban or Meyer, and he's made his mistakes but he's done at ND what no coach has been able to do in about 30 years.

 

[NorthDakota]

Who was It talking?

Local sports station that covers mostly North Dakota State. Couldn't tell you the name...they got a new play by play guy up here.

 

[IrishBroker]

Seriously? I can understand no Garret, but McDaniels would be a home run. Only reason he "failed" in Denver was Tebow... he literally got fired over one decision he never should've been in position to make.

Garrett is just a limp d**k who only has a job because Jerrah can control him...he's a god awful playcaller.

Ok, maybe I'm a little hard on JMcD...but he just has that "Kiffin" look too him. And he'd have to get a stud DC as he knows nothing about Defense.

Plus, former Patriot coaches have not been kind to us.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Today on the radio they talked about ND fans wanting Kelly gone. Pretty weird because they rarely talk FBS or ND. The host thought anyone asking for Kelly to be gone better be careful what they wish for. I'm inclined to agree.

As long as that is our attitude -the equivalent of fearing to dump a loser because it could always be worse- we will, in fact, be dating a loser. And paying him 4 million dollars.

No matter what the ND record is after this season, anyone who wants BK gone is on drugs. If that happens, BK will laugh his ass off when he gets a better job and gets more wins at a school like LSU, USC, Texas, etc.

BK isn't perfect, he isn't Saban or Meyer, and he's made his mistakes but he's done at ND what no coach has been able to do in about 30 years.

You're right- we haven't lost to a 20 point dog since 1996, I believe. And he ain't getting a better job.

 

[dang227]

Seriously? I can understand no Garret, but McDaniels would be a home run. Only reason he "failed" in Denver was Tebow... he literally got fired over one decision he never should've been in position to make.

I would quit rooting for ND after 30+ years if they hire McDaniels. Him and his whole family are arrogant dicks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Meatloaf]

No matter what the ND record is after this season, anyone who wants BK gone is on drugs. If that happens, BK will laugh his ass off when he gets a better job and gets more wins at a school like LSU, USC, Texas, etc.

BK isn't perfect, he isn't Saban or Meyer, and he's made his mistakes but he's done at ND what no coach has been able to do in about 30 years.

That's a ridiculously low bar though given ND's historical success.

The fact of the matter is we're 1-3, we look outclassed in big bowl games, we have a ton of holes on the defensive roster because of poor defensive recruiting and we generally come out flat with a total lack of fire. Many of these issues have persisted throughout BK's tenure into now year seven. If we have a realistic shot at landing a top tier coach, Kelly should get the boot.

 

[irishfan]

Sorry if this name has been discussed as a Kelly replacement: Willie Taggart

-He's only 40 but he's in his 7th year as an FBS HC
-From the Harbaugh coaching tree
-Took over Western Kentucky after they went 0-12 in 2009. Went 2-10, 7-5, 7-5
-Put two Western Kentucky RBs in the NFL (Bobby Rainey and Antonio Andrews)
-Laid recruiting groundwork that's helped WKU turn into a small powerhouse
-Took over USF after Skip Holtz went 8-5, 5-7, 3-9
-Improved every season at USF going 2-10, 4-8, 8-5. Currently 3-1 and look they might win 10 games.
-Favored to win the AAC East division by many

Lotta names on that long Lax list above are unrealistic IMO

 

[Meatloaf]

Sorry if this name has been discussed as a Kelly replacement: Willie Taggart

-He's only 40 but he's in his 7th year as an FBS HC
-From the Harbaugh coaching tree
-Took over Western Kentucky after they went 0-12 in 2009. Went 2-10, 7-5, 7-5
-Put two Western Kentucky RBs in the NFL (Bobby Rainey and Antonio Andrews)
-Laid recruiting groundwork that's helped WKU turn into a small powerhouse
-Took over USF after Skip Holtz went 8-5, 5-7, 3-9
-Improved every season at USF going 2-10, 4-8, 8-5. Currently 3-1 and look they might win 10 games.
-Favored to win the AAC East division by many

Lotta names on that long Lax list above are unrealistic IMO

If that's the best we can do we should just keep Kelly go balls out for a big-time DC. Hard pass on Taggart.

 

[gkIrish]

Sorry if this name has been discussed as a Kelly replacement: Willie Taggart

-He's only 40 but he's in his 7th year as an FBS HC
-From the Harbaugh coaching tree
-Took over Western Kentucky after they went 0-12 in 2009. Went 2-10, 7-5, 7-5
-Put two Western Kentucky RBs in the NFL (Bobby Rainey and Antonio Andrews)
-Laid recruiting groundwork that's helped WKU turn into a small powerhouse
-Took over USF after Skip Holtz went 8-5, 5-7, 3-9
-Improved every season at USF going 2-10, 4-8, 8-5. Currently 3-1 and look they might win 10 games.
-Favored to win the AAC East division by many

Lotta names on that long Lax list above are unrealistic IMO

This is the right thought process but not really that high on this particular coach.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

As long as that is our attitude -the equivalent of fearing to dump a loser because it could always be worse- we will, in fact, be dating a loser. And paying him 4 million dollars.



You're right- we haven't lost to a 20 point dog since 1996, I believe. And he ain't getting a better job.

Judge the guy's entire tenure on 1 game...nice. As a fan, YOU might not think he deserves a better job. Athletic directors at other places look at him and say, "Damn, he went undefeated with freakin Cincinatti and wins 8-10 a year at Notre Dame. Imagine what he'd do with better talent."

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

That's a ridiculously low bar though given ND's historical success.

The fact of the matter is we're 1-3, we look outclassed in big bowl games, we have a ton of holes on the defensive roster because of poor defensive recruiting and we generally come out flat with a total lack of fire. Many of these issues have persisted throughout BK's tenure into now year seven. If we have a realistic shot at landing a top tier coach, Kelly should get the boot.

Legitimate beef, but ND isn't getting a top tier coach if jobs like USC, Texas, LSU, etc. are open. Think back to late 2009. Who did ND have to "battle" to get Kelly? Let me help you...no one. USC wanted Kiffin and got him, Florida St had Jimbo waiting and kept him, Tenn wanted Dooley and got him. The rest? You'd laugh if you looked it up.

You're setting a ridiculously high bar if you think it's still 1975 and every coach in the country dreams of having the ND job.

 

[irishfan]

This is the right thought process but not really that high on this particular coach.

I'm not that gung-ho on him either. He'd need a couple 10+ win seasons for me to be comfortable with that hire. I'd probably rather keep BK at that point (assuming we don't completely fall off a cliff to end things).

Like many, I'm just struggling to think of people with a better resume than BK had in 2009 who would come here.

 

[Meatloaf]

Legitimate beef, but ND isn't getting a top tier coach if jobs like USC, Texas, LSU, etc. are open. Think back to late 2009. Who did ND have to "battle" to get Kelly? Let me help you...no one. USC wanted Kiffin and got him, Florida St had Jimbo waiting and kept him, Tenn wanted Dooley and got him. The rest? You'd laugh if you looked it up.

You're setting a ridiculously high bar if you think it's still 1975 and every coach in the country dreams of having the ND job.

That's why I said realistic shot. I'm not deluded to the point of thinking ND is a more desirable job than the teams you mentioned; that said, there are definitely more than three coaches in the country who would be an upgrade. Like I said, if ND has a legitimate shot to upgrade its HC position, they should absolutely jump on it. I don't see a problem with throwing some back channel feelers out to gauge interest.

 

[IrishLax]

Okay, so then take out the 9 you don't think would come here...or rather, just leave who you think is actually obtainable from that list.

I'm just trying to figure out who you think is a better option than Kelly and reasonably obtainable at the moment. I take your opinion seriously and want to hear what you're thinking.

I'm just going to go ahead and bold who on that list I think would actually give ND a listen, above a maybe.

The point is you don't know who is attainable until you pick up the phone. Did anyone think Bronco Mendenhall would leave BYU for freaking UVA?? If you back track a season, wouldve anyone have dreamed Harbaugh would be fire in San Fran and available for Michigan?

I'm positive if Notre Dame is paying 6 mil then there is someone, somewhere who would jump at the offer. At the same time, it's pretty obvious to me that Kelly who have to lose at least 4 more games to even get on the hot seat... so really we need to be looking two years out, and that's basically impossible to project.

 

[GATTACA!]

Sorry if this name has been discussed as a Kelly replacement: Willie Taggart

-He's only 40 but he's in his 7th year as an FBS HC
-From the Harbaugh coaching tree
-Took over Western Kentucky after they went 0-12 in 2009. Went 2-10, 7-5, 7-5
-Put two Western Kentucky RBs in the NFL (Bobby Rainey and Antonio Andrews)
-Laid recruiting groundwork that's helped WKU turn into a small powerhouse
-Took over USF after Skip Holtz went 8-5, 5-7, 3-9
-Improved every season at USF going 2-10, 4-8, 8-5. Currently 3-1 and look they might win 10 games.
-Favored to win the AAC East division by many

Lotta names on that long Lax list above are unrealistic IMO

Lax's list was simply a list of coaches he would take over Kelly, not factoring in NDs chances of actually getting them.

Here's one I thought of over dinner that I remember being a big name when the Browns job opened up. Maybe some of you Irish fans in Boston can weigh in. What about Matt Patricia?

 

[gkIrish]

I'm not that gung-ho on him either. He'd need a couple 10+ win seasons for me to be comfortable with that hire. I'd probably rather keep BK at that point (assuming we don't completely fall off a cliff to end things).

Like many, I'm just struggling to think of people with a better resume than BK had in 2009 who would come here.

That is not the question that should be asked. BK's resume wasn't the issue, it was his performance. We don't need someone that has a better resume...it just has to be a good resume worthy of this position.

 

[Meatloaf]

Lax's list was simply a list of coaches he would take over Kelly, not factoring in NDs chances of actually getting them.

Here's one I thought of over dinner that I remember being a big name when the Browns job opened up. Maybe some of you Irish fans Boston can weigh in. What about Matt Patricia?

A successful coordinator from the Patriots?? What could possibly go wrong?

In all seriousness, though coordinators have never worked out for ND. HC experience should be a prerequisite.

 

[irishfan]

That is not the question that should be asked. BK's resume wasn't the issue, it was his performance. We don't need someone that has a better resume...it just has to be a good resume worthy of this position.

I phrased it poorly. Just saying I can't think of anyone out there who would come here who I think is a better coach than BK. If we have a season-long implosion and it comes to us needing to look for a young rising coach, guys like Fleck or Taggart are way less proven than BK was. That doesn't mean much but it just seems odd to me to make that move.

Maybe Swarbrick would interview Fleck and think he's the next Urban. Just would be an odd look to fire BK and have the replacement have a worse resume than BK had in 2009.

 

[phillyirish]

But there are about 20 guys right now that seem rather obvious upgrades over Kelly and it's basically a guarantee that we'd get one of them.

So you say we'd be guaranteed to get one of them? Which ones of these are we garunteed-- scratch that, even likely to get?

Kind of defeats the point of my post saying 9 of 10 might not be interested, no?

Peterson
Patterson
Herman
Shaw
Mullen
Stoops
Petrino
Dantonio
Gundy
Schiano
Freeze
Whittingham
Fitzgerald
Cryst
Fleck
Jay Gruden
Josh McDaniels
Bill O'Brien
Mike McCoy
Jason Garret

I'd take literally any of those guys over Kelly right now.

The bolded I think we have no shot at. I doubt David Shaw leaves his perennial in-the-hunt alma mater to go to a rival school. Not sure why you listed all these NFL coaches, are you expecting them to be fired this year? Because as far to my knowledge, Al Groh may be the only NFL coach in history who left to take a college job without be forced out or resigning in disgrace after a pathetic year(s).

The other coaches, we may or may not have a shot at. Some of them I don't think could considered an "obvious upgrade" over Kelly. Fitzgerald? He has as many 10 win seasons as kelly but in 11 years, currently sports the same record this year (1-3).

 

[SoIll]

Ive said this on ISD as well, but without getting to into it, PM if you'd like, PJ Fleck may be the next best thing, but that wont happen at ND. The dude has waaaay to many skeletons in his swag closet

 

[NDRock]

Legitimate beef, but ND isn't getting a top tier coach if jobs like USC, Texas, LSU, etc. are open. Think back to late 2009. Who did ND have to "battle" to get Kelly? Let me help you...no one. USC wanted Kiffin and got him, Florida St had Jimbo waiting and kept him, Tenn wanted Dooley and got him. The rest? You'd laugh if you looked it up.

You're setting a ridiculously high bar if you think it's still 1975 and every coach in the country dreams of having the ND job.

You're right that there weren't many big time coaching positions open in 2009 but Tennessee didn't want Dooley. They had to scramble for someone after Kiffin left in January (Kelly was hired December 10th). That's where Kiffin really screwed UT, leaving so late so they couldn't get anyone better than Dooley (one of the worst HCs ever).

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Chip Kelly