Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/638727
BY LOU SOMOGYI T he "Brian Kelly to the NFL" conversation will have to be put off again — for now. On Jan. 29, the Univer- sity of Notre Dame an- nounced it has agreed to terms on a new six-year agreement that runs through the 2021 season. If it is actually fulfilled through its full term, Kelly will have coached 12 seasons — or more than the 11-year ten- ures of school legends Frank Leahy (1941-43, 1946-53), Ara Parseghian (1964-74) and Lou Holtz (1986-96). The longest tenure was 13 years by Knute Rockne from 1918-30 before he died in a plane crash at age 43 on March 31, 1931. It has become stan- dard protocol in colle- giate athletics to have contract extensions at least four years in ad- vance to publicize for re c ru i t i n g p u r p o s e s . In reality, contracts are mainly terms of buyout over a given period if either party prefers to sever the relationship. • In December 2000, Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie signed a five- year extension through 2005 — but was fired 12 months after that deal. • In November 2004, Tyrone Willingham was axed after only three seasons with the Fight- ing Irish, disproving the misperception that "coaches get five years." • In October 2005, UNDER THE DOME SECURING THE FUTURE Brian Kelly's contract extension takes him through the 2021 season After producing a six-year record of 55-23, Kelly signed a deal to coach six more years at Notre Dame. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND