Notre Dame posts seven rushing touchdowns, including three from Jonas Gray.
A veteran of 20 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Brian Kelly heads into his second year in 2011 as the 29th head football coach at the University of Notre Dame coming off the most impressive late-season Fighting Irish run in nearly two decades.
Despite enduring a slew of injuries at key positions, Kelly's first Irish squad in 2010 came on strong to play perfectly in November. In addition to a convincing 28-3 victory over once-beaten and 15th-ranked Utah (Notre Dame's widest margin over an Associated Press top 20 opponent in 14 years), the Irish defeated Army in the historic first football game ever played at the new Yankee Stadium - then ended an eight-game losing streak at the hands of archrival USC with a come-from-behind win at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Then, in the convincing 33-17 Hyundai Sun Bowl triumph against Miami, the Irish charged to a 30-3 lead after three periods, as Kelly became the first Notre Dame football coach ever to record a bowl victory in his first season on the Notre Dame sidelines.
The Irish success down the stretch came mainly because of its defense, as Notre Dame went 13 consecutive periods over one late, four-game stretch without allowing an offensive touchdown (the best sequence in that category in 30 years). In those final four wins Notre Dame's defense limited the Utes, Black Knights, Trojans and Hurricanes to combined averages of 9.8 points (best stretch for an Irish team since 1989), 91.8 yards on the ground and 276.5 total yards. In the last four contests, the Irish defense faced teams that were averaging 38 points (Tulsa), 41 (Utah), 31 (Army) and 32 (USC) per game, yet yielded only two offensive touchdowns, combined, to that quartet. Among individual defensive leaders was linebacker Manti Te'o, Notre Dame's top tackler in 2010 with 133 and a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Dick Butkus Award.
Each of those four victories came in the first four career starts by freshman quarterback Tommy Rees, following a season-ending injury to Dayne Crist. Among the pacesetters for Kelly's spread offense was wide receiver Michael Floyd who caught 79 balls in 2010 for 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns (he has 171 career catches for 2,539 yards and a Notre Dame career record 28 TDs) and was named the MVP of the Hyundai Sun Bowl (six catches for 109 yards and two TDs in that contest).
Meanwhile, the Irish kicking game also sparkled in 2010, thanks to placekicker David Ruffer, who successfully converted his first 18 field-goal attempts (18 of 19 overall in 2010 and 23 for 24 in his career). Ruffer became one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award as the top placekicker in the nation.
Kelly's debut season in South Bend saw the 2010 Irish play arguably the most difficult schedule in the country, as all but one of the Notre Dame opponents finished .500 or better - something no other team in the country could claim. Notre Dame's agenda ranked first nationally in the official NCAA schedule strength standings at the end of the regular season, with Irish opponents playing at a .652 clip (79-42).
On the academic side, Kelly's first season at Notre Dame featured a first-team ESPN Academic All-America honor for Ruffer, an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship for offensive lineman Chris Stewart (he attended law school at Notre Dame during the 2010 season) as a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete selection - and a first-place finish by Notre Dame among all FBS programs in the latest NCAA Graduation Success Rate standings with a 96 mark.
Architect of two consecutive Bowl Championship Series appearances at the University of Cincinnati, including a perfect 12-0 regular season in 2009 that earned him national-coach-of-the-year honors, Kelly currently is the fifth-winningest active coach in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in terms of winning percentage at .741. He ranks seventh in terms of victories at 179. Over the last 10 seasons combined, Kelly's teams have won 102 games - and only Bob Stoops at Oklahoma (109), Mack Brown at Texas (106) and Jim Tressel at Ohio State (105) have won more.
Kelly earned the ESPN/Home Depot National Coach of the Year Award in 2009, was the BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2009 (the first time a BIG EAST football coach won the award three straight years) -- and received the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year Award in both 2002 and 2003. He also in '09 was a finalist for four other national awards - the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (Football Writers Association of America), Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award (National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association), Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award and the George Munger Coach of the Year Award (Maxwell Football Club).
He boasted a 2-1 record at Cincinnati in postseason bowl games - including a 27-24 win over Western Michigan in the International Bowl after the 2006 season (he coached in that game immediately after taking the job at Cincinnati), a 31-21 win over Southern Mississippi in the Papajohns.com Bowl after the '07 season and a 20-7 loss to Virginia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl after the '08 campaign. Kelly's '06 Central Michigan team finished 9-4 and qualified for the Motor City Bowl (Central Michigan defeated Middle Tennessee 31-14, though he did not coach after accepting the head coaching position at Cincinnati) - and his 12-0 team in '09 earned an Allstate Sugar Bowl assignment against once-beaten Florida.
In six NCAA Division II playoff appearances at Grand Valley State, Kelly's teams combined for an 11-4 (.733) postseason record - including four straight victories in winning both the '02 and '03 NCAA titles. His '01 Grand Valley State team fell 17-14 to North Dakota in the Division II national title game.
Kelly's '09 team at Cincinnati finished third in the final BCS standings and fourth in both the final regular-season Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN polls. His '08 team ended up 11-3 and 17th in both polls - and his '07 Bearcat squad finished 10-3 and 17th (AP) and 20th (USA Today/ESPN) in the final polls.
Through the end of the 2009 regular season, his Cincinnati team won all 12 of its games, led the nation in passing efficiency (166.19), ranked second in kickoff returns (29.2 each) and sixth in total offense (464.25 yards per game), passing yardage (320.33) and scoring (39.83 points). Meanwhile, Kelly's Bearcat defense rated third nationally in tackles for losses (8.42 per game) and eighth in sacks (2.92). The '09 Cincinnati squad set Bearcat single-season records for points (495), passing yards (3,844), fewest fumbles (10), fewest fumbles lost (two) and fewest turnovers (10). Cincinnati concluded the '09 campaign with a record 18 straight regular-season victories.
Among the standouts Kelly coached on the '09 Bearcat roster were first-team All-America receiver Mardy Gilyard (he ranked second nationally in all-purpose yards at 203.5 per game at the end of the regular season) and quarterback Tony Pike (ninth in passing efficiency at 155.36). Eleven Cincinnati players merited all-BIG EAST honors for '09 (five first-team selections), including Gilyard, the league's Special Teams Player of the Year for the second straight season.
In three years at the helm of the program, Kelly put together a 34-6 record and led the Bearcats to their first two BIG EAST championships in 2008 and '09. Cincinnati achieved a then-school-record 11 victories in 2008, followed that up with a dozen wins in '09, and had back-to-back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history. Kelly's Bearcats in '08 won the school's first outright conference championship since 1964 and earned the school's first berth in a BCS game, playing against Virginia Tech in the 75th FedEx Orange Bowl. In '08 Cincinnati achieved its then-highest ranking to close the regular season - 12th in the AP and USA Today/ESPN polls and the BCS standings entering the Orange Bowl. The Bearcats held down a postseason ranking of 17th in both polls, tying the top postseason ranking in school history.
Following the close of the '08 regular season, Kelly was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year for the second straight season. He also was named the American Football Monthly Schutt Sports FBS Coach of the Year, earned AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year honors and was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year by Sporting News.
Cincinnati placed 10 players on the 2008 all-BIG EAST teams (including first-team selection Connor Barwin) - with kick returner Gilyard named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year and punter Kevin Huber earning the first AFCA All-America nod in program history. Huber became the first two-time AP first-team All-America selection in Bearcat football history.
The Bearcats' 27-24 bowl victory over Western Michigan in 2006 came just 34 days after Kelly was hired. Then, in his first full season at the helm in '07, he put Cincinnati on the national radar by jumping out to a 6-0 start and earning the Bearcats their first appearance in the polls in more than 30 years. By winning 10 games for the first time since 1951, Cincinnati earned its 10th bowl appearance in program history and sixth bowl appearance in eight years. The Bearcats finished 17th in the AP poll and 20th in the USA Today/ESPN rankings, earning their first appearances in the final polls.
Along the way to the 2007 Papajohns.com Bowl victory, the Bearcats' third straight bowl win, Kelly earned BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors. Cincinnati listed seven individuals on the all-BIG EAST teams, including BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year and consensus All-America punter Huber. The national leader in punting, Huber was one of three Bearcats to be named to an All-America team. Cincinnati ranked second in the BIG EAST and 24th nationally in passing offense (254.1), and was also second in the league and 27th nationally in passing efficiency (139.4). At the same time, the Bearcat defense led the BIG EAST in sacks (2.9) and tackles for a loss (6.5). Kelly's Bearcats led the FBS in net punting (41.5 yards per punt), and Cincinnati also paced the BIG EAST in kickoff returns (24.2).
During his three years at Central Michigan, he transformed a Chippewa program that had won more than three games only once in the past four seasons into a conference champion. Central Michigan posted a 9-4 regular-season record in 2006 en route to winning the MAC title and qualifying for its first bowl game in 12 years. Kelly inherited a program that had produced a mere 12 wins over its previous four seasons when he took the helm at Central Michigan in 2004. He guided the Chippewas to a 4-7 record in 2004 and a 6-5 slate -- the school's first winning season in seven years -- in 2005.
The Chippewas in 2005 defeated both defending MAC divisional champions, Miami and Toledo, and also knocked off eventual '05 league champ Akron. Central Michigan ranked first nationally in fewest turnovers (10) and fewest fumbles lost (four), while the team's rushing defense ranked 20th and led the MAC at 113.7 yards per game (compared to 245.8 in '03 -- the year before Kelly arrived).
In 2006 Central Michigan rolled up a 7-1 record in conference play to win the MAC West, then dominated Ohio 31-10 in the league championship game. Central Michigan boasted the 19th-most prolific passing attack in the nation, averaging 252.4 yards per game, set a Chippewa season mark with 28 TD passes and led the MAC in total offense (375.3 yards per game) and scoring (29.7 points). MAC Freshman of the Year Dan LeFevour passed for 2,869 yards and 25 TDs to rank 20th nationally in passing efficiency and 14th in total offense.
Kelly had 12 of his players achieve first-team all-conference honors over his three years at Central Michigan (including '05 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Daniel Bazuin) -- and three advanced to the NFL (including 2005 draftees Eric Ghiacuic and Adam Kieft and free agent Tory Humphrey). Bazuin, who led the nation in '05 in tackles for losses, also was a '06 first-team Academic All-American.
Kelly arrived at Central Michigan after winning the back-to-back NCAA Division II national titles at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. The all-time winningest program in NCAA Division II history, the Lakers were 41-2 in Kelly's final three seasons, at one point winning 32 consecutive games. Grand Valley State went 14-0 in 2002 en route to its first national title and was 14-1 in 2003 when it claimed its second crown. Kelly was named the AFCA Division II Coach of the Year after both seasons. Kelly led the Lakers to five conference titles (1992-97-98-2001-02) and six Division II playoff appearances in his 13 seasons at Grand Valley. The Lakers never finished lower than third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference.
Kelly mentored a pair of finalists for the Harlon Hill Award, presented annually to the top player in Division II. Quarterback Curt Anes won the award in 2002 after finishing as runner-up in 2001. He threw for 10,581 career yards and 114 TD passes - 48 in '01 and 47 in '02 (12 games with at least five TD passes). Anes still holds the NCAA Division II single-season passing efficiency record for '01 at 221.6 (189 for 271 for 3,086 yards, with 21 TDs, three interceptions). Quarterback Jeff Fox was third in the balloting in 1998, as he became the first Laker quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 in multiple seasons. Kelly's Grand Valley State players earned 77 All-America awards (11 in 2002 alone). Four players moved on to the NFL and another three to the Canadian Football League.
His 2001 national runner-up squad set 77 NCAA, GLIAC and school records, including the all-time Division II scoring record by averaging 58.4 points per game (and an average victory margin of 48.0 points). The 2001 team also became the first Division II unit in 53 years to average more than 600 yards per game in total offense (600.8), leading the nation in that category.
Grand Valley State followed up its record-shattering 2001 season by averaging 497.5 yards and a nation-leading 46.7 points during its undefeated 2002 national championship run in which Kelly's squad went wire to wire as the top-rated Division II squad. That '02 campaign ended with a 31-24 championship game win over second-ranked and unbeaten Valdosta State - as All-America receiver David Kircus caught passes for 270 yards and three TDs. Kircus holds the NCAA Division II season record for TD receptions with 35 in '02, catching at least one TD pass in 24 straight games in 2001-02. He ended his career with 4,142 receiving yards and 76 TD catches and led the nation (Division II) in scoring in both '01 and '02.
The 2003 team, meanwhile, became more noted for its defense, leading the country in rushing defense at 62.0 yards per game. The Lakers defeated North Dakota 10-3 in the 2003 national title game (played annually in Florence, Ala.). In 10 of his 13 seasons at Grand Valley State, Kelly's teams won eight or more games - and he finished with a 103-22-2 mark in GLIAC contests. The seniors on his final team in '03 won 47 of their final 49 games (and finished 34-4 in four seasons of GLIAC play) and won 20 straight games in 2002-03. Kicker David Hendrix led the nation in '03 with 25 field goals.
Born Oct. 25, 1961, in Everett, Mass., and raised in Chelsea, Mass., Kelly attended St. John's Prep School in Danvers, Mass. He was a four-year letter-winner at Assumption College (Worcester, Mass.) as a linebacker, captaining the squad in both '81 and '82 under coach Paul Cantiani on teams that finished 8-3 and 7-1-1. After graduating from Assumption in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in political science, he served as linebacker coach and defensive coordinator (as well as softball coach) from 1983-86 at Assumption under head football coach Bernie Gaughan.
Kelly joined the Grand Valley State staff in 1987 as a graduate assistant and defensive backs coach. He became the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in 1989 and took over (at age 28) as head coach in 1991 (replacing Tom Beck, who left to become running backs coach at Notre Dame under Lou Holtz). His very first team Laker team finished 9-3 and qualified for the NCAA playoffs. In 2009 Kelly was inducted into the Grand Valley State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Kelly has served on the AFCA Ethics Committee - and he's currently one of 59 FBS head coaches who vote in the USA Today poll. Kelly was announced as the Notre Dame head coach on Dec. 10, 2009. He signed a five-year contract to coach the Irish.
In June 2010 Kelly and his wife Paqui made a $250,000 gift to the University of Notre Dame in support of endeavors in research, academics and community engagement. The benefaction directly supports three Notre Dame initiatives -- cancer research, the Hesburgh Libraries and the Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC). In the area of cancer research -- the fight against breast cancer is a deeply personal cause for the Kelly family -- the gift benefits the Mike and Josie Harper Cancer Research Institute that opened this past summer in Notre Dame's new Harper Hall. The institute brings together scientists from Notre Dame and Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend to collaborate to advance basic and clinical research as it pertains to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer. The gift also provides financial support for the Hesburgh Libraries, which consist of the main Hesburgh Library and 11 subject branches across campus. The funding enables senior library personnel to identify and purchase the learning and teaching materials most in demand by Notre Dame scholars. At the RCLC, the gift underwrites innovative tutoring, violence-prevention, youth entrepreneurship and performing arts projects for adults and children in South Bend's Northeast Neighborhood. Sponsored by Notre Dame in partnership with local residents, the RCLC serves an estimated 500 youths and adults each week, in addition to another 8,000 children annually through its outreach programs. In conjunction with the gift, Kelly launched the "Coach Kelly Challenge," an effort aimed to encourage all members of the Notre Dame family to offer financial support to the University through one of its annual giving programs: the Notre Dame Annual Fund, the MBA and Law School annual funds, and the Rockne Heritage Fund.
Notre Dame's head football coach and his wife play host to a series of events benefitting the Kelly Cares Foundation, established by Brian and Paqui Kelly to support organizations, initiatives and programs that closely align with the goals and values of the Kelly family in three main areas: personal involvement, with emphasis on breast cancer research, prevention, education and awareness; education and institutional advancement; and, community involvement in selected initiatives and projects. In addition to several charity golf events in July 2010, they co-hosted Football 101 in June 2010, giving women an opportunity to meet the Notre Dame football coaching staff, learn fun facts about Fighting Irish football and enjoy an upscale taste of South Bend. The more than 300 participants also got a behind-the-scenes look at Notre Dame Stadium and the Guglielmino Athletics Complex - with proceeds benefitting breast cancer prevention, awareness and early detection initiatives.
Kelly and his wife Francisca (Paqui) are parents of three children - Patrick, Grace and Kenzel.
