Something New For 2015, a Six-Year Coach at Notre Dame
By Andrew Hall
Fans will see something in 2015 that has not happened since the 1990s, a sixth year Head Coach at Notre Dame. Brian Kelly has lasted longer than his predecessors Charlie Weis (5 years), Tyrone Willingham (3 years) and Bob Davie (5 years). Not since Lou Holtz coached in his 11th season in 1996 has a Notre Dame had a longer tenured football coach.
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The sixth-year has been a solid year for Notre Dame coaches. Perhaps, it is because, by the sixth year, the program is well established. It may also be a solid year because of the men who graced the sidelines at Notre Dame stadium.
In 1991, Lou Holtz finished 10-3 and defeated #3 Florida in the Sugar Bowl. Notre Dame finished 12th in the AP and 13th in the Coaches in 1991.
Dan Devine’s sixth season at Notre Dame was his last in South Bend. The Irish began the season 9-0-1 before dropping their two final games against #17 USC and #1 Georgia.
Ara Parseghian coached his sixth season for the Irish in 1969. The Irish finished with a record 8-2-1. The 1969 Notre Dame squad ranked 5th in the final AP poll.
The next sixth year Notre Dame coach was Frank Leahy for graced the sidelines from 1941 to 1943 and 1946 to 1953. His sixth season with the Irish occurred in 1948. The Irish finished 9-0-1 with a tie against arch-rival USC.
Prior to Leahy, Notre Dame was coached by former Notre Dame great Elmer Layden who held the position from 1934 to 1940. In his sixth season in South Bend, Layden’s squad finished 7-2.
The first Notre Dame Head Coach to have a sixth year was the greatest Notre Dame coach of all-time, Knute Rockne. Rockne completed his sixth season with Notre Dame a 9-1 record.
Brian Kelly has lasted long enough to be mentioned in the same light as Holtz, Devine, Parseghian, Leahy, Layden and Rockne. However, Kelly has failed to do what five of those six coaches did, win a national championship.
Kelly’s 2015 squad has an opportunity to win a championship. History shows that no sixth year Notre Dame coach has ever completed that task.