Former LSU coach Brian Kelly’s firing was one of the biggest dominoes in the frantic coaching carousel that gripped college football last season. Kelly’s jaw-dropping $54 million buyout caused widespread discourse about the quality of his LSU tenure after his arrival from Notre Dame in 2021 heightened expectations in Baton Rouge.
Kelly’s firing was perhaps the most consequential in college football last year, as he held one of the most lucrative jobs in the country, and he was eventually replaced by charismatic coach Lane Kiffin.
Brian Kelly Addressed His Coaching Future After LSU Firing
During an appearance on the “USA TODAY” podcast on Wednesday, Kelly addressed a potential return to coaching after a six-month absence from college football since his acrimonious LSU exit.
“More than anything else, is being reflective on what do I wanna do? I’m in a very good position that I don’t have to coach again unless it’s the right coaching position, but I wanna coach,” Kelly said. “Because it’s given me this chance to know what’s my passion and I love the relationships and I love being around the players.
“Outside of downsizing, selling homes, being a real estate agent, figuring out how to pay bills, this has been a lot, but it’s been very good.”
Kelly has been a head coach since his first job in charge of the Grand Valley Lakers in 1991, and he has presided over five different programs. Despite a promising start to his LSU tenure, including winning the SEC West Division and three bowl wins, Kelly faltered and did not manage to clinch a coveted College Football Playoff berth.
During his interview, Kelly further revealed the type of job environment that he envisioned going back to in college football.
“I think what’s clear to me is I miss the relationships,” Kelly said. “For me, it’s not necessarily about the right fit as much as where are we going to be with college football that allows me to build those relationships with players.
“I think that’s really important at the end of the day for me to be at a place where relationships are still part of the process of being in college football.”
In three and a half seasons at the helm of the Tigers, Kelly managed a 34-14 record, but was the only Tigers coach in the last 25 years not to win a national championship and was widely criticized for not being the ideal fit for the LSU job.
