LSU football hires coach Brian Kelly of Notre Dame as Ed Orgeron's replacement
Adam HunsuckerLSU football has hired Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly to replace Ed Orgeron, ending a six-week search to replace Ed Orgeron, who reached a separation agreement with the school on Oct. 17.
Kelly, 60, has amassed a 263-96-2 record at Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Grand Valley State. Notre Dame finished 11-1 in 2021, the sixth time Kelly has won 10 or more games in the past seven seasons.
LSU signed Kelly to a 10-year contract worth $9.5 million per year plus incentives that would up the total to $100 million. Kelly's hire was announced on Tuesday morning.
Kelly will be introduced as LSU's new coach on Wednesday.
“I could not be more excited to join a program with the commitment to excellence, rich traditions, and unrivaled pride and passion of LSU Football,” Kelly said in a statement.
“I am fully committed to recruiting, developing, and graduating elite student-athletes, winning championships, and working together with our administration to make Louisiana proud. Our potential is unlimited, and I cannot wait to call Baton Rouge home.”
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Kelly's former and current contracts, salary
Contract terms were not immediately available.
Kelly received a three-year extension at Notre Dame in 2020, through the 2024 season. Kelly's total compensation at Notre Dame is not known. According to USA TODAY Sports, Kelly’s salary was listed at $2.7 million in the 2019 calendar year, though his overall income is actually higher, as Kelly was permitted to receive compensation from external sources at Notre Dame with written approval.
Orgeron's legacy
Orgeron coached LSU to a 27-24 upset win over Texas A&M in his final game on Nov. 27. His record was 51-20 in six seasons. The Tigers reached their zenith under Orgeron, finishing 15-0 in 2019 and winning the national championship.
Offensive line coach Brad Davis will serve as LSU’s interim coach for the bowl game
Orgeron coached LSU to a 27-24 upset win over Texas A&M in his final game on Nov. 27. His record was 51-20 in six seasons. The Tigers reached their zenith under Orgeron, finishing15-0 in 2019 and winning the national championship.
Offensive line coach Brad Davis will serve as LSU’s interim coach for the bowl game.
In 12 seasons at Notre Dame, Kelly’s record was 92-39. The Fighting Irish played for the national championship in 2012 and made the College Football Playoff in 2018 and 2020. Kelly was named the 2018 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award winner in 2018.
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Kelly passed Knute Rockne as Notre Dame’s all-time winningest coach in September.
At Cincinnati, Kelly was 34-6 in four seasons. He departed for Notre Dame in December 2009 after coaching the Bearcats to a 12-0 record in the regular season.
Prior to Cincinnati, Kelly was the coach at Central Michigan from 2004-06, going 19-16 with one bowl appearance. His first head-coaching job was at Grand Valley State, where he went 118-35-2 and won two Division II national titles from 1991-2003.
Kelly inherits an LSU program coming off its worst season since 1999. Orgeron began negotiating a $16.9 million separation agreement with LSU following a 42-21 loss at Kentucky on Oct. 9. LSU announced Orgeron would not return in 2022 on Oct. 17, one day after a 45-42 win over Florida at Tiger Stadium.
In Orgeron’s final two seasons, LSU was a subpar 11-11 and 8-10 in the SEC.
A Massachusetts-native, Kelly started coaching at Assumption College, his alma mater in 1983. He left from Grand Valley State in 1987, working as a graduate assistant, defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator before becoming the head coach.
Adam Hunsucker covers LSU for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at ahunsucker@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @adam_hunsucker. Enjoy Adam’s work? Consider a digital subscription for unlimited access.