Brian Kelly opens up on LSU opportunity at this stage of his career

Brian Kelly is grateful to be at LSU at this stage in his career. At 60, Kelly is a veteran coach who has already developed winning cultures at Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Notre Dame.

He recently left the comfort of Notre Dame, where he made College Football Playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020, to become the Tigers next head coach. Now he is tasked with rebuilding a Tigers program that is 11-12 over the past two seasons.

Despite its current state, LSU has a proud history and claimed a national championship as recently as 2019. The fans and leadership in Baton Rouge share a passion and dedication to getting back on track, both factors that played into Kelly’s willingness to take the job.

“Well, first, to have the opportunity. You have to get the opportunity,” the coach said Monday at SEC Media Days. “LSU is a great program, great tradition, great history, so just getting that opportunity meant a lot. Look, I loved my opportunity at Notre Dame. It was a great opportunity. But it’s time and place. You have to have the right timing and it’s got to be the right place, and LSU was the right place and it was the right time for me to make that move. It’s been a great embrace for me personally and for our family to come to Louisiana and we love it. It’s great.”

Brian Kelly brings an impressive track record with him to LSU that includes 166 victories throughout his career. Over the past seven seasons at Notre Dame, he led the Fighting Irish to six finishes of at least 10 wins.

The coach has since retooled the roster through the transfer portal, adding quarterback Jayden Daniels, running back Noah Cain and several players in the secondary. LSU also returns former five-star receiver Kayshon Boutte, who played just six games in 2021 as he battled injuries. With talent like that, Kelly is confident he can start getting the program back on track.

LSU is set to open the 2022 season on Sept. 4 against Florida State.