Buyer's Remorse: Ten Coaches Notre Dame Would Trade Brian Kelly for Today
In the end, Brian Kelly may be the best long-term solution for Notre Dame. But that shouldn't keep anyone from speculating what Notre Dame would look like right now if the Irish had gone in another direction.
After promising starts with Tyrone Willingham (2002-04) and Charlie Weis (2005-09), Notre Dame's football program hit on hard times. Some of the ND loyalists may be wondering if Kelly is the answer to the Fighting Irish's football woes.
If history is any indication, Kelly looks like the right choice. He has been an extremely successful coach. During stops at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, and Cincinnati, Kelly amassed a coaching record of 171-56-2.
In four games as Notre Dame's coach, Kelly's performance has been less than spectacular. The Fighting Irish are 1-3 and have lost three straight.
So is there a chance the leadership at Notre Dame is having second thoughts about Kelly? If so, here are 10 coaches that may have worked out better in South Bend.
10. Al Golden, Temple
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In his fifth year with Temple (3-1), Al Golden has transformed one of the nation's most incompetent programs into a respectable team that could win the Mid-American Conference this season.
To understand what Golden has done, just look at the Owls' history.
Last year was Temple's third winning season since 1979, its first bowl appearance since the same year, and just the third bowl game in 111 years of Temple football.
Many believe Golden, a Penn State graduate, is the heir apparent to replace Joe Paterno. Even if he is, it's hard to believe Golden wouldn't have jumped at the chance to coach the Irish.
9. Kyle Whittingham, Utah
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Remember the last time a big-time program snatched the head coach from Utah? That was Florida grabbing Urban Meyer. How did that turn out?
All Whittingham has done is go 52-17 since taking over for the 2004 Fiesta Bowl. He even led the Utes to a 13-0 season in 2008 and a surprising upset victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
His name gets thrown around for other openings and was even considered a serious contender for the Tennessee job when Lane Kiffin bolted for USC. But Whittingham seems to be committed to Utah.
With the Utes headed to the Pac-10, Whittingham doesn't need to look elsewhere to get a shot at the BCS prize, but wouldn't it be easier to reach that goal at Notre Dame? Even Whittingham would realize that.
8. Skip Holtz, South Florida
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The son of the last great Notre Dame coach, Lou Holtz, would make an interesting legacy choice for the Irish. The last name alone would excite a number of Notre Dame fans.
As far as coaching acumen goes, Holtz has the weakest resume on this list. But a name and connections are important in the business world, and it makes a difference in coaching also. Look at Lane Kiffin.
He has a decent career record of 73-51 and is currently 1-1 since taking over at South Florida, his first head coaching job with a BCS program.
Would Notre Dame have really gone this route with the most-prized coaching position in the nation? Doubtful, but could you imagine how much more of a homer Lou Holtz would be as an "analyst" on ESPN? Disgusting.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Gary Patterson, TCU
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Gary Patterson has been rumored for a number of openings over the years because of his continued success with the Horned Frogs. The good news for the folks in Fort Worth is Patterson has stuck around for 10-plus seasons.
He was named the 2009 AP Coach of the Year and would have been a natural target for Notre Dame. Still, Patterson may not have been the flashy choice the Irish would have liked, but this guy can flat out coach.
Patterson is a defense-first coach and that's an area Notre Dame has struggled with for years.
This is probably not a direction Notre Dame would have gone, but Patterson would have been an outstanding choice.
6. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
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Everyone knows Notre Dame really wanted Urban Meyer. Heck, the Irish wanted Meyer in 2005. After striking out twice, why not go with the closest thing to a Meyer clone.
In his second season with Mississippi State, Dan Mullen doesn't have a winning record (5-7). Still, most experts would say Mullen is an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks and Mississippi State is not his final stop.
Over the next decade, Mullen could easily become one of the top five coaches in the nation. Isn't that what Notre Dame wants in a coach?
5. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford
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Jim Harbaugh seemed like a natural fit to replace Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, but with the Wolverines showing all the signs of a program on the rise it's not likely that will happen in 2011.
How would Harbaugh look on the sidelines at Notre Dame Stadium? A lot like the same guy in California who shows all kinds of emotion, only in a blue shirt and not a red one.
Harbaugh's coaching pedigree is rooted in Midwestern, blue-collar values based on his time at Michigan with legendary coach Bo Schembechler.
Notre Dame was burned once by going with a Stanford coach (Tyrone Willingham) and the Irish would probably be leery of going down this path again.
4. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
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Most Iowa fans consider Kirk Ferentz a coaching icon. He's one of the nation's highest paid coaches and he's guided the Hawkeyes to some memorable seasons.
There are also many college fans who consider Ferentz one of the most overrated coaches around, but that reputation shouldn't have stopped Notre Dame for considering him for the job. Could you imagine what Ferentz could do with the talent he could recruit at Notre Dame?
He would win a national title.
It would have taken a lot of money (something Notre Dame could do) to persuade Ferentz to leave Iowa. But it's Notre Dame and Ferentz would have understood the potential rewards of this job and would have taken it.
3. Chris Petersen, Boise State
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In fairness to Chris Petersen, he's the one coach on this list who may not be driven by financial gain.
He could have left Boise State by now for more money and a higher profile position with an easier path to a national championship, but he doesn't seem to have any real interest in leaving the blue turf.
Even Petersen would have to listen to Notre Dame, though. Petersen is an innovative coach that could quickly revive the Irish.
Petersen is not as boisterous and showy as some other recent Notre Dame coaches, but he could have fit right into the Irish folklore.
2. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
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Bob Stoops' struggles in the big games work against him a little, but he's still one of the most successful coaches in the game right now. That's a perfect fit for Notre Dame.
It's not easy to find a step up from Oklahoma, but Notre Dame is one of those places.
Once again, Stoops would have required Notre Dame to pony up some serious money to lure him away, although anything is possible.
In the end, though, Stoops is a great fit in Norman, Okla., and he's not going anywhere...not even the NFL.
1. Urban Meyer, Florida
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As mentioned earlier, Notre Dame has lusted after Urban Meyer since he led Utah to a perfect season in 2004. Now they've swung and missed twice. Apparently the Irish will get one more shot at the prized choice.
Meyer was an assistant at Notre Dame and he has the school on his list of Big Three, which also includes Ohio State and Michigan. These are the programs he considers the ultimate jobs and his wife has no veto powers over.
So why has he turned away Notre Dame twice? There are reasons that have been floated out there, but really that's for Meyer and his wife to explain.
But if Notre Dame is really a dream job, don't you think the Irish brass could figure out a salary and pitch that would lure him home?
Nothing against Brian Kelly, but who do you think Notre Dame would rather see coaching the Fighting Irish this season?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
