Tennessee’s next head coach: Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly?
Since Phillip Fulmer made the decision to step down at the end of the year, speculation has run rampant on who will replace him as the next head coach at the University of Tennessee. While The Oregonian suggests that Oregon State’s Mike Riley could be in line for the position, I’ve got another name to keep your eye on: Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly.
Five years ago, Kelly was a nobody winning multiple Division II championships at little old Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From there, he was hired at Central Michigan University, which had won more than three games only once in the previous four seasons. After finishing with a 4-7 record in 2004 (his first year in Mt. Pleasant) and 6-5 in 2005, Kelly led the Chippewas to a MAC Championship in 2006 before jetting to Cincinnati before coaching CMU in the 2006 Motor City Bowl.
In his first season at Cincinnati, Kelly led the Bearcats to their second ever 10-win season (first since 1949) and a top 25 ranking. He was named Big East Coach of the Year and currently has the Bearcats ranked 19th in the nation despite having to play a total of four different quarterbacks this season due to injury.
Tennessee needs a confident, offensive-minded leader and Kelly fits the bill. Many in the Mt. Pleasant area hate him for the way he left CMU in the lurch after winning the MAC Championship in 2006, but the fact of the matter is that he made that program relative again (the Chips are going for their third straight MAC title this season). He was the one that converted Joe Staley (who is currently starting for the 49ers right now) from tight end to offensive tackle, and also the one who recruited Heisman candidate Dan LeFevour. And the job Kelly has done at Cincinnati in his two years has been remarkable to say the least.
When talking to people who have worked with him in the past (like Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun columnist and Central Michigan beat writer Drew Ellis, who is a close friend of mine), you get the impression that Kelly is a cocky, but confident coach. The Vols need someone headstrong that can turn the program around in only a few short years. No offense to Riley or any other candidate Tennessee may consider, but Kelly has won everywhere he’s gone and he seems like a coach that can light a fire under that program’s ass.
Posted in: College Football
Tags: Brian Kelly, Brian Kelly Tennessee, Brian Kelly to Tennessee?, Central Michigan Chippewas, Dan LeFevour, Grand Valley State, Joe Staley, Mike Riley, Mike Riley Tennessee, Oregon State Beavers, Phillip Fulmer, Phillip Fulmer's replacement, Tennessee head coach rumors, Tennessee Vols, Tennessee Volunteers, Tennessee's next head coach
It’s horrible timing on your part to come out with this article. UC has the biggest game in the program’s history, and all the media focuses on is the Tennessee vacancy.
It’s a big story, Joey R. I didn’t mean to take the attention away from Cincinnati and their quest for the Big East title, but most of our content is opinion – and I think Kelly is a great fit for UT.
Good luck to your team this weekend.
It’s a sad thing if Kelly goes.
Cincinnati is such a great story. I am a die hard Georgia Tech fan, but I am very excited for the Bearcats, and I would forever pull against Tennessee if this happens unless they play UGA.
U. of Tenn. is not the place for Brian Kelly. Kelly is from New england and has his college football roots in low stakes Midwestern football. He would have to get rich for life the first year to enter the pressue cooker of the SEC and deal with all those toothless, hillbilly fans.
Brian Kelly might leave to Tenn and his past history certainly points to it. But I doubt it for several reasons. First, UC probably gave him penalty ridden contract if he left as they probably smartened up after Dantonio left for Mich st. Second he’s been working to get additional facilities built for his team in the upcoming years. Third the Tenn job isn’t that great– sure they put 100k in the stadium but you gotta duke it every year against georgia and florida and s carolina and that’s just the sec east. Sure the money is great at Tenn but considering the challenges, I think UC is a better gig because its in a major BCS conference Big East but with easier opponents than a SEC. Also look at the last big east coach to leave–Rich Rodrig from WV to a supposedly better gig at michigan and now he’s struggling and will struggle next year too. He might very well get fired from michigan after next year or they might end up stuck with him like Notre Dame and that fat freak.
Wow David Manning, another ‘toothless hillbilly’ comment about Tennessee fans. When are people going to get something original to say about us? I know it may be difficult for someone with such a small mind, as you obviously have, but maybe if you try really hard, you can come up with something better. The hillbilly comments are really old and a little sad.
Toothless Hillbilly. Hmmm…Reggie White was from Tennessee and he had all of his teeth. That can’t be said for some of the quarterbacks who lined up opposite him though. And Al Gore, the Noble Prize winning former Vice President has all of his teeth. Which is evident from his ever growing backside. Jimmi Hendrix died with every tooth in his head. He was from Tennessee. Bill Belichick is hardly toothless and he’s from Tennessee. Folks from Tennessee have plenty of teeth. Dan Manning, however, would certainly have a lot fewer if he ever made such a brainless comment anywhere near Good Ole Rocky Top.
“U. of Tenn. is not the place for Brian Kelly. Kelly is from New england and has his college football roots in low stakes Midwestern football.”
Insert the word “football” for “basketball” and you’d be describing Bruce Pearl.
Yeah, we’re toothless! …huh?
While Kelly certainly has the pedigree to make the jump like old Saban did from Midwestern Football to LSU then Miami then Alabama, I am not sold on him.
Truly believe the Vols should begin throwing money at Boise State’s coach.