Coach Kelly Situation

[waterhead]

The practice facility, absolutely true.

The stadium is probably going to be a tough sell (at least to donors) when Kelly leaves -- at least until whoever is brought in can show that the program is continuing to build in the right direction.

All you gotta do is continue winning and with some of the guys on our team it should be expected.

[JasonS]

I love Brian Kelly for what he has done for this program. I hate Notre Dame and always have. If Brian Kelly goes to Notre Dame I will say thank you for all you have done and good luck but I hope Notre Dame never wins another football game again. And that has nothing to do with Brian Kelly.

[mjb1979]

I love Brian Kelly for what he has done for this program. I hate Notre Dame and always have. If Brian Kelly goes to Notre Dame I will say thank you for all you have done and good luck but I hope Notre Dame never wins another football game again. And that has nothing to do with Brian Kelly.

I agree with this statement 100%.

[#41]

So, here's my thought: If Mike Thomas does offer up some huge money for Kelly, along with raises for the assistants and the University comes up with some sort of plan for expanding Nippert....and Kelly leaves anyway, won't that make the next coaching search real interesting?

I've seen all kinds of names thrown out there, and most of which are younger coaches from mid major conferences. I'm not sure I agree.

If Cincinnati wants to become a "destination" job, I believe if Kelly leaves they need to make a huge splash with their next head coach. Sure, they could take a gamble on a younger guy. But why not throw some big time money at a proven commodity to show the fans, the city, the country that you are seriously committed to becoming an elite team year in and year out?

The trouble with most "proven commodity" coaches is that they aren't used to the "doing more with less" that is required to succeed at Cincinnati. Until things like the stadium expansion happen, there aren't going to be the type of resources that most "established" coaches are used to dealing with.

You can bring in a guy sitting on the sidelines -- a Tommy Tubberville or Phil Fulmer -- but you run the risk that any splash you make by hiring him is mitigated by the problems they'll encounter when forced to work at a smaller program than Auburn or Tennessee (respectively). The same is true of paying someone already a "name" elsewhere (say, offering a Jeff Tedford $2.5m or so to leave Cal) -- you might end up paying for a guy that can't do the job you need him to do.

The new coach has to be the right fit for Cincinnati -- that, above all other considerations, should rule the day.

[Bruce Monnin]

I always rooted for Notre Dame when they played Ohio State. But never otherwise.

[waterhead]

I have no problem with it if he wants to go to Notre Dame. It's a big time school with alot of great tradition and I understand that.

What I would have a problem with is if he leaves after all he has said and gotten the University to commit to doing. That would be flat out selfish, and incredibly so, simply jerking around people making decisions worth millions of dollars in case he decides to change his mind and stay.

Having said that, maybe he doesn't plan to leave at all, and he's just trying to get a better contract. In that case, that's fine by me, he deserves to get paid alot more than he is getting paid now. So I can understand if he is trying to get UC to sweeten the deal a little but more.

But if it turns out he still wants to go to Notre Dame after all he's said and gotten the University to commit to, then he is in fact a liar and a hypocrite.

Maybe basketball attendance will pick up next year if he leaves.

Coach Kelly wasn't selling the University on the advantages of practice fields and stadium renovations for no good reason. He was doing it because it would help him and the university recruit kids and win.

If our boosters were doing it to keep a coach and not because of the benefits to the program they were not seeing the forest through the trees. Again, something we need to THANK Kelly for...in addition to putting his heart and soul into public awareness. It has and will do wonders for this program. We should be so lucky to have him here for a short period if that's the unfortunate ending.

If we can't sustain it...it won't be Kelly's fault if he leaves. He put all the pieces in front of us and now we have to put them together just like he laid it out. If we don't...shame on us...we aren't serious about football.

[#41]

Another way to look at it though, is to use the situation to light a fire under donors. You know, we aimed for the skies, we're on our way, with your help, we'll continue to build on that progress. Without you, the future is uncertain.

That's at least how I'd direct it. I'd respond positively to it as well.

Then again, I'm in this thing for the long haul, regardless.

I agree -- I'd sell everything as "We'll forever be someone else's resume builder until we make ourselves something to be desired." Every coach will be facing these same questions so long as the things like stadium expansion don't happen.

Having said that, you gotta keep winning and keep the momentum going if the wallets are to stay open.

[shadyo]

Guys, the emotion on this board is unbelievable. I know I am probably taking tidbits from a lot of different posts (how can I remember everything that was said in 40 some odd pages.

We all knew that from past discussions ND was considered one of the jobs that Brian Kelley would consider. So before we crucify the man, put yourself in his shoes.

He has done a wonderful job at a place that doesn't have all the luxuries of many big time programs. He has taken what others have started but moved it to a level that many of us in our wildest dreams would not have expected even at the beginning of this year. But our University will probably never be able to offer him what ND or other programs might put on the table. Now he has a decision to make. A school he has always had interest in has come calling. If he turns it down now he probably will never get another chance at it again in his lifetime. Chances are that if he turns this down many other prime time positions might not come calling in the future. So now he has to say to himself, can I meet all my goals here at UC or do I need to move on.

I do not think that any of us know what he or his family think. All I know is that if he leaves UC, he will leave it in better shape than when he got here and I thank him for that.

BK has made me see what is truly possible at UC, for that I thank him.

[CincyBeerCo]

I have no problem with it if he wants to go to Notre Dame. It's a big time school with alot of great tradition and I understand that.

What I would have a problem with is if he leaves after all he has said and gotten the University to commit to doing. That would be flat out selfish, and incredibly so, simply jerking around people making decisions worth millions of dollars in case he decides to change his mind and stay.

Having said that, maybe he doesn't plan to leave at all, and he's just trying to get a better contract. In that case, that's fine by me, he deserves to get paid alot more than he is getting paid now. So I can understand if he is trying to get UC to sweeten the deal a little bit more.

But if it turns out he still wants to go to Notre Dame after all he's said and gotten the University to commit to, then he is in fact a liar and a hypocrite. (Or maybe he wouldn't be a hypocrite if he was lying from the get-go.)

Maybe basketball attendance will pick up next year if he leaves.

Hypocrite - noun
a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess.


Unfortunately the situation you described where he was using this to sweeten the deal (stay at UC) fits the definition of hypocrite, much more than what it may be if he leaves. I 100% believe BK when he says that he had not had contact, nor had the time to consider any other jobs prior to the Pitt game (i.e. he was completely dedicated to the University of Cincinnati), and he meant it when he said he had no intention of leaving. Things and situations change, and unfortunately the system (thanks NCAA) is set up so that these past couple of days are when those situations tend to change.

[Ran513]

If Kelly leaves, he leaves. There is absolutely nothing any of us could do, or have done, to prevent it. The thing that worries me most is not the fact that he may or may not leave, but more of who in the world can you get to replace him. With all respect to the list of names previously mentioned, but I think we need to aim higher than that. We need to think along the lines of a Muschamp and so on. You can say thats wishfull thinking, but look at what we have done, why settle?
All im saying is we have the foundation to take a coordinator from one of the "traditionals", and put them in a position to be the "next Bowden, or Paterno". Who ever it is though, has to have some sort of recognition to recruits. Ultimately thats the most important part of this whole equation, and keeping kids from leaving.

[Carin's Dad]

and unfortunately the system (thanks NCAA) is set up so that these past couple of days are when those situations tend to change.

I'm usually up for some good NCAA bashing, but I don't understand how they influence coaching changes.

It's like blaming the NCAA for the BCS situation. They'd go to a playoff in a heartbeat if they could.

[udonkey]

I just re-read this and got a little bummed out. Needless to say, I'm going to be the happiest man alive if BK comes back to Clifton, as the UC coach for 2010 (and hopefully longer):

12/04/06:

"It is a great honor to be here today. I am not quite as prepared as Mike going into this. I will be speaking extemporaneously and I think that I speak from my heart when I say that I am so pleased to be the new football coach at the University of Cincinnati.

"Being a Bearcat and being a part of this University is something special. My family and I want to be a part of an urban university. The University of Cincinnati really drew our family here. My family and I are very appreciative of everything that has been given to us during this short time so far.

"I got a chance to be with my football team. It feels good to say that because those men are deserving of leadership and we will provide clear leadership to this program. Our leadership will mirror the values of this University. We will be a team of integrity and excellence, both in the classroom and on the football field.

"Championships are built seven days a week. It is not just about what you do on Saturday. We are going to work on winning immediately. I must say that there are some great pieces already in place here at the University of Cincinnati. I want to thank Mark Dantonio. I can see already in the players, their discipline, their demeanor. We have tough kids on the field and gentlemen off the field and that will continue to be the theme for the University of Cincinnati and the Bearcats.

"I want to talk a little bit about what you will see at Nippert Stadium. Not only will you see a football game, you will see an event. We want to get a game day atmosphere that is electric. We will play exciting football. We will play hard football for four quarters. We want to throw the ball around a little bit. I like to throw it around and be aggressive on offense. We want to make certain that if you come into our stadium, it will be a tough place to play. But most importantly, it is about our student-athletes and the commitment that they have made. We are here to play for championships; we want to be BIG EAST champions.

"I know what I have here at the University of Cincinnati and that is commitment from our student-athletes, from our board of directors, from our president and from our trustees, to be the very best we can be. It is time for us to bear down and get to work on winning a championship for this university."


He's absolutely been a man of his word and has done all of the things that he said he would from day 1.

[Jmac84]

If Kelly leaves, he leaves. There is absolutely nothing any of us could do, or have done, to prevent it. The thing that worries me most is not the fact that he may or may not leave, but more of who in the world can you get to replace him. With all respect to the list of names previously mentioned, but I think we need to aim higher than that. We need to think along the lines of a Muschamp and so on. You can say thats wishfull thinking, but look at what we have done, why settle?
All im saying is we have the foundation to take a coordinator from one of the "traditionals", and put thrm in a position to be the "next Bowden, or Paterno". Who ever it is though, has to have some sort of recognition to recruits. Ultimately thats the most important part of this whole equation, and keeping kids from leaving.

I really think Kevin Sumlin at Houston is the perfect choice. He has ties to the midwest and is known as a very good recruiter (as evidenced by still being in on the #1 recruit in the country) and he runs the #1 offense in the country. He could be our Bowden or Paterno.

[CincyBeerCo]

I'm usually up for some good NCAA bashing, but I don't understand how they influence coaching changes.

It's like blaming the NCAA for the BCS situation. They'd go to a playoff in a heartbeat if they could.

A) they could push back signing day (this is the main reason schools move so fast to snatch up a coach)
B) they could put a policy in place to make every program's season (conference championship game or not) end on the same weekend.

[#41]

I really think Kevin Sumlin at Houston is the perfect choice. He has ties to the midwest and is known as a very good recruiter (as evidenced by still being in on the #1 recruit in the country) and he runs the #1 offense in the country. He could be our Bowden or Paterno.

Sumlin's resume worries me -- he only has 2 years of experience as a head coach, and his team is *very* upperclassman heavy (15 starters are JR or SR). Not a lot of his players are playing right now.

Plus, he's been down south for the entire decade. He may have Midwest ties, but he hasn't been in the Midwest since 2000. All of his recruiting classes are dominated by TX/OK/LA kids.

Finally, he's seemed decidedly "un-clutch" as the head coach of Houston (loss to UTEP this year, loss to Rice last year).

All adds up to a guy I'm not really interested in. But, that's just me.