New LSU coach Brian Kelly explains his decision to leave Notre Dame: ‘I wanted to be with the best’
Saying he was looking for an opportunity to compete on the biggest stage, Brian Kelly addressed the media for the first time since his surprising decision to leave Notre Dame for LSU.
Kelly had the longest tenure of any Fighting Irish coach and the lure of winning a national championship at a school that had won three since Notre Dame’s last one in 1988.
Kelly stressed the relationship with LSU school president William F. Tate IV and athletic director Scott Woodward and the resources available to win at the school.
“This is so much about alignment,” Kelly said. “This university, the goals and what is in store for LSU athletics and the university. That is what the draw is to me.”
However, choosing to leave a program with the prestige of Notre Dame is extraordinarily rare. The last coach to do it for another job was 114 years ago. Typically, burnout or failure to meet expectations have led to other departures. Kelly is walking away with the program as healthy as it has been in 30 years.
“I can’t say enough about my 12 years at Notre Dame,” Kelly said. “The incredible people I worked with. The incredible players that I had the honor to coach there.”
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The timing is another matter. The Fighting Irish were ranked No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday, one day after his departure was announced. It’s possible Notre Dame could make the field and not have their coach leading them.
“It’s never easy,” Kelly said. “Those young men, I love dearly. It made for a difficult decision. But when I was able to look at it, the opportunity here was one that I got a chance to talk to (LSU athletic director Scott Woodward) about the resources and the opportunity here to really make a significant change. I believe that I can make a significant difference here.”
