Brian Kelly’s tenure at LSU has come to an abrupt end. It marks a pretty dramatic chapter in the university’s football history.
He arrived with a stacked resume and got off to a decent start. But by his fourth season, disappointing performances piled up, and that led to his dismissal.
Let’s dig into what went wrong for Kelly—what challenges he faced, and which choices finally did him in. If you want the full rundown, check out the article on ESPN here.
The High Expectations and Initial Success
Brian Kelly landed at LSU in late 2021 with one thing in mind: a national championship. His predecessors—Ed Orgeron, Les Miles, Nick Saban—had all managed that within four years.
Kelly brought a ton of experience and a long list of accolades. People expected him to deliver quickly.
He actually started strong. LSU won an SEC West Division title in his first season and notched 10 victories in each of his first two years.
Impressive Credentials
Kelly’s resume? Pretty hard to argue with. He was Notre Dame’s winningest coach, a two-time Division II national champ at Grand Valley State, and twice named AP National Coach of the Year.
LSU fans and boosters were excited. His hiring seemed like a big win for the program.
Where It Went Wrong
But things started to slide. LSU missed the College Football Playoff in Kelly’s first three seasons.
By the fourth year—when people expected a breakthrough—the Tigers lost three of four games. That included a brutal 49-25 home loss to Texas A&M.
After that defeat, the mood soured. There were tense meetings and empty stands, and it was pretty clear Kelly’s time was up.
CEO-Style Coaching
Kelly ran things with a CEO-style approach, delegating a lot to his staff. That worked for him at Notre Dame, but the SEC is a different animal.
In this conference, head coaches are expected to be everywhere—recruiting, game planning, the whole deal. Kelly’s more hands-off style just didn’t fit, and he struggled to adjust.
Struggles with Coordinators
Another big problem: Kelly couldn’t settle on the right coordinators. When offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock left for Notre Dame, the offense sputtered.
Promoting quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan to co-offensive coordinator and playcaller turned out to be a mistake. The offense, especially the run game, just never clicked.
Defensive Woes
Defense wasn’t much better. Kelly brought in Blake Baker from Missouri, making him the highest-paid assistant in the FBS.
Still, the Tigers’ defense just didn’t deliver. They kept giving up big numbers, and the gap between offense and defense was obvious.
Cultural Misfit
Kelly tried to fit into LSU’s unique culture, but it always felt a bit off. Remember the awkward “fam-u-lee” speech?
He even hired an image consultant, but the effort to blend in just didn’t land. Unlike Nick Saban, who was unapologetically himself, Kelly’s attempts seemed forced and never really connected with fans.
Political and Public Pressure
The pressure wasn’t just from inside the stadium. Political figures, like Governor Jeff Landry, weighed in and criticized the team’s performance.
All that outside noise, on top of the losing, made Kelly’s position almost impossible to defend.
Failed Transfer Portal Strategy
LSU went all-in on building a top transfer portal class. They spent big, brought in a lot of talent, and hoped it would pay off.
But the results just weren’t there. The team started 5-3, despite having an $18 million roster, and the disconnect between investment and performance was glaring.
Underwhelming Performances
Sure, a few transfers like Mansoor Delane and A.J. Haulcy had solid seasons. But others didn’t live up to the hype.
The offensive line struggled. Big-name receivers like Barion Brown and Nic Anderson didn’t change the passing game as much as hoped. For all the money and effort, the payoff just wasn’t there.
The Future of LSU Football
Now, with Kelly out, LSU is searching for a new head coach who can actually meet those sky-high expectations. There’s already buzz about possible candidates—Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is one name that keeps popping up.
Kiffin’s done well at Ole Miss and knows how to build a roster, but whether he’s the answer for LSU? That’s still up in the air.
Conclusion
Brian Kelly’s time at LSU feels like a warning about what happens when big expectations collide with an awkward cultural fit. He had a strong resume and some early wins, sure. But adapting to the wild world of LSU and the SEC? That seemed to trip him up.
Now, with Kelly out, LSU faces a crossroads. Maybe they’ll take a hard look at what went wrong and use those lessons as they chase another national title. Who knows—college football never really goes the way you expect, does it?
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