Brian Kelly’s Focus on Golf Over Recruiting Leads to Dismissal

After getting his paycheck, it seems Brian Kelly may have prioritized tee times over recruiting efforts.

In a recent discussion, Bruce Feldman from The Athletic highlighted some surprising reasons behind Kelly’s firing from Notre Dame earlier this season, particularly his laid-back attitude toward recruiting players.

Feldman noted, “People say he made money there, but they also say he would golf more often than he spent time in the office.” He shared these insights on “The Ryen Russillo Show.”

Ultimately, Kelly was dismissed due to insufficient wins. Despite a record of 34-14 with the Tigers, his failure to secure major victories or reach top-tier success often ties back to recruiting issues.

During his time at LSU, he managed to assemble recruiting classes that ranked No. 7, No. 4, No. 9, and No. 7. Yet, those close to him began to feel he wasn’t truly invested in the process.

Recruiting at LSU presented a stark contrast to his experiences at Notre Dame, the school he left after signing a hefty 10-year, $95 million contract.

According to Feldman, “When he was at Notre Dame, he primarily dealt with a different demographic of students.” He added, “At LSU, I think he struggled to connect and wasn’t keen on recruiting them.”

Feldman also compared Kelly’s approach to that of former LSU coach Ed Orgeron, who was always available to recruits, while Kelly acted more like a businessman.

This business-like demeanor mirrored his tenure with the Lynx and followed previous claims made against former Auburn coach Hugh Freeze regarding his own golfing habits.

Feldman recounted, “If it was Brian Kelly’s approach, he might tell an assistant, ‘Get a commitment,’ instead of engaging personally. He often left recruits feeling disconnected.”

This disconnect was echoed by one of his players, a starting center for two years, who remarked, “I hardly interacted with him; he didn’t even try to get to know me.” Such sentiments underscore the importance of relationships in coaching.

Despite the $54 million buyout owed to Kelly, LSU opted to part ways with him. Now, the situation has turned complicated after Kelly filed a lawsuit against the school to contest the full payment of that debt.