On Oct. 26 LSU announced they had fired head football coach Brian Kelly after a humiliating 49-25 loss at home to Texas A&M.
Kelly had not even compete his fourth season of a 10-year contract. After this, many fans have begun to ask this question about his head-coaching career.
Is Brian Kelly overrated? Here are some reasons I think so.
His overall record against top 10 teams is 5-10.
This will not cut it in terms of elite head coaching in college football.
A great head coach in college football would have a .500 or better record against top 10 teams especially at LSU where expectations are high.
Kelly had an unimpressive 8-5 record his first season at Notre Dame. Especially, when you consider the loses to Tulsa, Michigan State, and Navy teams that were unranked that season. Teams that Notre Dame beat convincingly in previous seasons.
Fans and analysts made excuses why this record was so bad. Some examples included the difficulty to win at Notre Dame, he couldn’t recruit the best players coming out of high school and other excuses.
A great coach in any sport at any level will get the very best out of his team and turn things around during his first year after a poor season the year prior.
Brian Kelly has a reputation of not getting along with his players. During a game against Florida Kelly was caught on the sidelines yelling at wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr.
This was noticed during his tenures at both Notre Dame and LSU. A level-headed, more personable head coach will calm the player down after such a mistake.
Athletic directors have to stop negotiating 10 year contracts, it’s one thing if he doesn’t expect improvement right away.
However, when you become impatient and don’t end up with the result you wanted and fire the head coach, the athletic director will find himself on the wrong end of a breach of contract lawsuit, which is where LSU find themselves right now as we speak.
This is why contracts for football coaches should not exceed more than five years to prevent a situation such as this.
Brian Kelly might not get an opportunity to coach a top 10 college football team again. Maybe, he will get another chance to be a head coach for a team outside the top 10 of the sport.
But I doubt it.
Kelly was able to make his name on the offensive side of the ball especially when it comes to quarterbacks. However, at this point he may just have to be a offensive coordinator at the college football or NFL level.
Brian Kelly at the very least, has to learn from this and be more patient with his players and the rest of his coaching staff. The “my way or the high way” mindset doesn’t work in modern day football.
Today’s head coaches have to be more personable and be able to understand and relate to his players to be successful.
