There are some coaches that can handle the Notre Dame job and all that comes with it and those that can't. And as the last, oh, 30 years have shown us, there are a lot more in that second group than the first.
Brian Kelly is one of those coaches that can handle being the head coach at Notre Dame, and on Friday the Irish rewarded him with a new six-year contract keeping him employed through the 2021 season.
"In the classroom, in the community and on the playing field, Brian has built the foundation of a great Notre Dame football program--one that reflects this University's values and its unique relationship to the game of football,” Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick said in a statement. “I could not be more excited about the future of our football program under Brian's leadership, and I am especially thankful that our student-athletes will continue to have the benefit of that leadership in the years to come."
Salary terms were not disclosed, as is Notre Dame's right as a private school.
Kelly is 55-23 in six years at Notre Dame (226-80-2 in 25 overall seasons as a head coach); he's never won less than eight games in a season and hit the 10-win barrier twice, including an undefeated regular season and trip to the BCS National Championship in 2012. The Irish haven't experienced six straight seasons of at least eight victories since doing it seven straight times from 1987-93.
Should Kelly remain Notre Dame's coach through the life of the deal, he will have lasted 12 seasons in what was dubbed upon his arrival "the weirdest job in sports."
The last Irish head coach to survive a dozen seasons on the job? Knute Rockne.