Brian Kelly Coaching History & Bio

Brian Kelly stunned the college football world when he left Notre Dame for LSU after the 2021 season.

Here’s what you need to know about the Tigers’ head football coach, from his record to personal information.

Brian Kelly Coaching Record

Teams Coached	Years Coached	Brian Kelly Coaching Record
Central Michigan	2004-2006	19-16
Cincinnati	2006-2009	34-6
Notre Dame	2010-2021	92-40
LSU	2022-Present	29-11 (17-7 SEC)

Brian Kelly Coaching History

• 1983-86: Assumption — Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach
• 1987-88: Grand Valley State — Graduate assistant/defensive backs coach
• 1989-90: Grand Valley State — Defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator
• 1991-2003: Grand Valley State — Head coach
• 2004-06: Central Michigan — Head coach
• 2007-2009: Cincinnati — Head coach
• 2010-2021: Notre Dame — Head coach
• 2022-present: LSU — Head coach 

Brian Kelly Bio

Brian Kelly just finished his third season as LSU’s head football coach.

Kelly stunned the college football world when he took the Tigers’ job prior to the end of the 2021 season, leaving a Notre Dame program that he helped build up over the course of a decade.

He left South Bend for Baton Rouge and didn’t take long to establish himself as one of the top coaches in the SEC. The Tigers won the SEC West and reached 10 victories in his first season at the helm.

That marked a big step forward for the Tigers, as they had won just 11 combined games over the previous 2 seasons at the end of Ed Orgeron’s tenure. 

Kelly has big expectations as he continues in his role as LSU’s head coach. The last 3 Tigers’ head coaches — Nick Saban, Les Miles and Orgeron — have all won the national championship. 

That’s one barrier that Kelly has yet to cross. Prior to arriving at LSU, Kelly helped produce historic seasons at Notre Dame and Cincinnati. 

The Fighting Irish reached the College Football Playoff twice during his 12 years atop the program. They also played in the BCS National Championship Game at the end of the 2012 season. 

Notre Dame won 10+ games in its final 5 seasons of Kelly’s tenure. That is the longest such streak of double-digit win campaigns in Notre Dame’s storied history. 

At Cincinnati, Kelly led the Bearcats to 3 straight double-digit win seasons. That stretch included a 12-0 regular season in 2009 that saw Cincy reach the Sugar Bowl. However, Kelly did not coach in that game because he had accepted the Notre Dame job. 

Kelly also spent 3 years as Central Michigan’s head coach prior to accepting the Cincinnati job. From 2004-06, he led CMU to a 19-16 overall record. In his final season with the Chippewas, they won 10 games — a mark they’ve beaten just once in the last 16 seasons. 

Prior to his time at CMU, Kelly was the head coach at Grand Valley State for 13 years. The Lakers won the Division II National Championship in each of Kelly’s final 2 seasons with the program. He finished with an overall record of 118-35-2 at Grand Valley State. 

Kelly has earned numerous accolades throughout his career. He’s a 2-time AP National Coach of the Year (2012 and 2018). He’s also a 3-time Home Depot National Coach of the Year (2009, 2012 and 2018). 

During his time at Cincinnati, Kelly won the Big East Coach of the Year award in all 3 of his full seasons with the Bearcats. He also won ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2020 when Notre Dame competed in the conference due to COVID-19. 

Kelly is originally from Everett, Massachusetts. He played linebacker at the Division II level for the Assumption Greyhounds. Assumption is also where he first coached in college football as he served as the program’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 1983-86. 

FAQ About Brian Kelly

What is Brian Kelly's Salary?

Kelly’s base salary is only $400,000. However, with an additional compensation of $9 million and a $500,000 “longevity bonus,” the LSU coach will earn $9.9 million in 2025. According to an LSU memorandum, additional compensation is defined as “compensation above the employee’s base salary paid by LSU from any source for the performance of duties outside the scope of their primary job responsibilities and beyond 100% effort.” Kelly’s income could increase substantially if he earns certain performance-based incentives such as Bowl eligibility, SEC Championship Game appearance, Playoff appearances and Coach of the Year recognition.

What is the Length of Brian Kelly's Contract?

Kelly is in the fourth year of the 10-year contract he signed in 2022 when he came to LSU from Notre Dame. His deal extends through the end of the 2031 season.

What is Brian Kelly's Buyout?

Kelly would receive 90% of his remaining base salary and any supplemental compensation that would have been made payable to him over the remainder of his contract if he is terminated without cause. That would set his buyout at $51.7 million before Dec. 31, 2025. That’t the Kelly’s fourth-highest among FBS coaches, trailing Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Florida State’s Mike Norvell.

Has Brian Kelly Ever Coached Softball?

Yes. His first head coaching experience was with the women’s softball team at his alma mater, Assumption University, a small Catholic school in Worchester, Mass. He coached the team for 4 seasons from 1984-87 while also serving as the linebackers coach on the football team. Kelly compiled a 64-54 record on the diamond before leaving to become a graduate assistant at Grand Valley State.

How many Halls of Fame has Brian Kelly been inducted into?

Three. He was inducted into the athletic Hall of Fame of his alma matter, Assumption University, in 2006. He was inducted into the Grand Valley State athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 and most recently, the University of Cincinnati Hall of Fame, along with his undefeated 2009 Big East championship team, in 2019.