Report: Brian Kelly Will Accept Notre Dame Coaching Job

Speculation has run wild over the naming of the Notre Dame coach. Some names were simply foolish to toss out there, like Bob Stoops, Nick Saban, and others. No coach at a good program now would want the job.

For most, it would be a lateral move at best, for others like Stoops, Saban, and Urban Meyer, it would definitively be a step down.

But for Brian Kelly, if he has been offered and accepts the job, it is his chance to step up into a job of national spotlight, but perhaps not national relevance.

That is due to the work of the last three coaches who let the program fall to mediocre at best standards. Kelly could be the man to remedy this.

Kelly seems to be a man who can fix this, but many thought the same of Charlie Weis. However, Kelly does have head coaching experience and certainly seems to be the man for the job at this time, and ironically enough, he is of Irish background.

He was a former linebacker, and even though he's primarily known as an offensive guru, he came through the ranks as a defensive coach and was even a defensive coordinator, something the Irish like.

Sources are already saying it's a done deal but will not be "official" for a little while longer.

The report of his hiring was leaked by IrishCentral.com staff writer Sean O'Shea, who lives and breathes Irish football, and anything Irish related.

O'Shea writes:

"Kelly is expected to see out the season with his Bowl Championship Series-bound team, and then report for duty at South Bend...Kelly, a Massachusetts native and proud Irish American, is an obvious choice to take over from the outbound Charlie Weis, given his background and outstanding success with the Cincinnati program."

O'Shea is considered a Notre Dame insider with knowledge of the inner workings and has not been wrong with such stories before.

According to these reports, it is expected to be announced following Kelly's game this Saturday.