There aren’t many positions in college football as sought after as the head coaching job at Notre Dame. However, even that has its limits, as Brian Kelly proved Monday when he left after ten seasons to become the new head coach at LSU.
While there were plenty of reactions and rumors from around the world of college football, many people wanted to hear from Jack Swarbrick, the Notre Dame athletic director. They wanted to know if Kelly had burned bridges and handled the situation poorly, as many have said Lincoln Riley did when leaving Oklahoma for USC.
Swarbrick spoke to reporters Tuesday morning and discussed plenty of topics surrounding Kelly’s departure and the future of Notre Dame football.
One of the most interesting points of interest was that Swarbrick has not installed an interim head coach and might not. He also noted that if someone does get that position, it will be someone who is not in the running to become the eventual head coach.
Jack Swarbrick says there won’t be an interim head coach to stand in for Brian Kelly.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 30, 2021
Swarbrick was also very clear about how he doesn’t see this as a bad sign for the Irish. If anything, he sees the program in the best shape it’s been in since he’s been with the university.
Jack Swabrick: "In my 14 years this program has never been in a better shape."
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 30, 2021
As far as how the Kelly news broke, Swarbrick said he found out about it until after the news broke. However, he didn’t seem to have hard feelings about it and appreciated that Kelly didn’t make Notre Dame bid for his services. Swarbrick admitted that he sensed “restlessness” with Kelly during the last year, which meant this news was not a major surprise to him.
Jack Swarbrick: "Brian did not come to me, which frankly I appreciated, with some opportunity to match the offer."
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 30, 2021
Jack Swarbrick confirms that Brian Kelly did not speak to him until last night until after news of his departure to LSU had already broke.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 30, 2021
“Brian did not come to me, which frankly I appreciated, with some opportunity to match the offer,” said the AD.
As far as the concern that part of the reason Kelly left for the SEC is that Notre Dame can’t compete from a facilities standpoint, Swarbrick stood by the school’s facilities and plans to improve them further in the future. And he also sees the current team as one that can compete with the LSUs and Alabamas of the world.
Jack Swabrick says that at some point Notre Dame will expand the football facility. Said he believes Notre Dame’s facilities rate among the best in the country as is.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 30, 2021
Jack Swarbrick: "When I look at the team that played the last half of the season, I don’t see a gap. I think this team is really well positioned. I think we can play with anybody in the country."
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 30, 2021
Of course, Swarbrick is going to stay positive about the state of Notre Dame football. But it’s a refreshing take to see the athletic director not bemoan the lack of warning or the speed in which the deal happened in a business where it’s par for the course. Notre Dame will be fine and they’ll probably hire a new coach soon enough. In the meantime, Swarbrick is going to wish Kelly well for the success he brought to South Bend and look to the future.
