Swarbrick sees long game with Kelly

[cali_domer 298]

Swarbrick is already lowering expectations. He will sink or swim with BK. 7 years of mediocrity is not enough evidence, we need more.

 

He wants to see improvement. So it sounds like 6 wins is going to be seen as an improvement. Heck 5 wins would suffice, because the lads tried so hard. I am convinced moreso now that Swarbrick needs to go first. I do not want him picking the replacement.

 

Welcome to ND, where we strive for improvement.

 

 

 

When Brian Kelly reinvented his coaching staff this off-season, he did it with long-term backing. Jack Swarbrick sees Kelly’s next act as the start of a rebuild toward the College Football Playoff.

 

Editor’s Note: Irish Illustrated sat down with Jack Swarbrick on Tuesday for a wide-ranging interview that hit on facilities, scheduling and Brian Kelly’s next act. Today’s installment of that Swarbrick interview focuses on the coaching changes Kelly made last winter.

If Jack Swarbrick wanted to make a change at head football coach, he would have already made it.

Instead, when faced with a “rebuild” of Notre Dame football following that abysmal 4-8 season, the Irish athletics director doubled down on Brian Kelly. The same head coach who got Notre Dame to the BCS National Championship Game would get the opportunity to deliver the program to its first College Football Playoff.

But that oversimplifies Swarbrick’s outlook.

He doesn’t want to give Kelly a chance at the playoffs. He wants to give him chances.

The reinvestment in Kelly and his staff this winter – new offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and strength coach – was not made under threat of a one-year ultimatum.

“We had a decision to make at the end of last year,” Swarbrick told Irish Illustrated. “We made a decision to go long.

“You can’t attract the people that we attracted if they’re worried that it’s a one-year experiment. We’re looking for progress. We want to be better this year, but (also) clearly see a trajectory where we’re going to get back to national championship contention. Everything I see now gives me great encouragement that we’re on that road.”

Enter offensive coordinator Chip Long, defensive coordinator Mike Elko, special teams coordinator Brian Polian and strength coach Matt Balis.

Swarbrick said he likes the early returns on all four fronts, even if he admitted it doesn’t ensure success this fall. Still, Notre Dame’s athletics director believes the staff changes represent upgrades to those positions and an upgrade at head coach too.

“I’m more optimistic that we’ve hit it this year than I am ever before, but our goal has been to get him in a CEO role where he can look over the whole program, because that’s among his greatest strengths,” Swarbrick said. “He can contribute across the board over the entire thing if he doesn’t get pulled into one area.

“That’s a big part of what we’re trying to achieve. It allows him more time with the players. It allows him to see the bigger picture. It allows him to focus on strategy in the broad sense.”

Kelly’s hires outside his coaching background have clicked in the past – offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and offensive coordinator Mike Sanford – to the point they perhaps increased his conviction to go outside his Grand Valley State roots. Long, Elko, Polian, Balis, DelVaughn Alexander and Clark Lea are all new to Kelly’s approach.

“I think that’s been a bit of an evolution,” Swarbrick said. “It’s increased his level of comfort and confidence that he can bring in people he didn’t know personally, necessarily, and have them work effectively here.”

As for what constitutes enough progress this fall, Swarbrick wouldn’t say exactly.

From the athletics director’s perspective, there’s little upside in setting a public win total in July that becomes a story in itself for the coming six months.

“I’m looking for all the things we measure across the board to be better,” Swarbrick said. “I certainly want to have greater success in the outcome of the games, but I want a team that’s physically more prepared, mentally more prepared. I want better leadership on the team, from within the team itself. I want them to represent this University effectively. Frankly, every one of those matters a lot. You could have a phenomenal on-field season that was disappointing in other ways that would be troubling. There’s no easy answer.

“I know it will always reduce itself to (number of wins), but we’re trying to make improvements across the board because everything matters. If you want to play at a championship level you can’t have … your deficiencies are always exposed. We’ve got to make sure we master those deficiencies.”

http://www.scout.com/college/notre-dame/story/1790777-swarbrick-sees-long-game-with-kelly

Edited July 13, 2017 by cali_domer

[jessemoore97 1,478]

Well guess Kelly and Swarmy aren't going anywhere soon. We're fooked.

[corysold 0]

We will just have to see how it looks at the end of the year.

 

The choices were basically fire Kelly and start over, or allow him to recreate his staff.

 

Perhaps they either didn't like any of the available coaches if they fired Kelly, or were told no in the back channel discussions.

 

But as he said, you weren't going to get any quality assistants to come in thinking they were on a one year trial. So even if he wants to fire Kelly after this year and only 6 wins, he can't say so publicly at this point.

 

I did note though that he suggested wins aren't all that matters. Perhaps that is a small opening for getting rid of Kelly for "off field issues" that weren't up to par. Who knows.

[goirish83 0]

I've heard swarbrick say this more then once now over the past few months. I'm not sure if it's just athletic director speak or if it's the truth but it is scary to hear. He's basically saying these guys were brought in to give Kelly additional years plural unless it's another 4-8 like dumpster fire.

 

Then again what else can he say right now?

[coltssb 1,125]

We will just have to see how it looks at the end of the year.

 

The choices were basically fire Kelly and start over, or allow him to recreate his staff.

 

Perhaps they either didn't like any of the available coaches if they fired Kelly, or were told no in the back channel discussions.

 

But as he said, you weren't going to get any quality assistants to come in thinking they were on a one year trial. So even if he wants to fire Kelly after this year and only 6 wins, he can't say so publicly at this point.

 

I did note though that he suggested wins aren't all that matters. Perhaps that is a small opening for getting rid of Kelly for "off field issues" that weren't up to par. Who knows.

 

I would call Elko a very quality assistant. But the rest of your premise I agree with. Let's wait and see. As I said before, if he bows out with a 3 or 4 game losing streak or is crushed in some games this year, I can see him gone. I'll take this article with a grain of salt as of now. But this does at least give some credence to Frankus thoughts on ND.

[KamaraPolice 0]

This is the most critical time of the year right now for notre dame football. In the coming weeks we will find out how many starters will be kicked off the team for the upcoming season. Any less than 6 (qb position not withstanding) and I think we have a shot to beat Georgia. And I think the season hinges on that Georgia game. There's going to be a lot of fingers ready to dial Stoops if we lose to Georgia.

[cali_domer 298]

This is the most critical time of the year right now for notre dame football. In the coming weeks we will find out how many starters will be kicked off the team for the upcoming season. Any less than 6 (qb position not withstanding) and I think we have a shot to beat Georgia. And I think the season hinges on that Georgia game. There's going to be a lot of fingers ready to dial Stoops if we lose to Georgia.

Our fingers can be ready all we want. The fact is Jack thinks BK is a top 5 coach. Jack is delusional.

[ELDER06 248]

This is the most critical time of the year right now for notre dame football. In the coming weeks we will find out how many starters will be kicked off the team for the upcoming season. Any less than 6 (qb position not withstanding) and I think we have a shot to beat Georgia. And I think the season hinges on that Georgia game. There's going to be a lot of fingers ready to dial Stoops if we lose to Georgia.

 

Completely agree. The UGA game will be the tilting factor on how the season goes.

[ELDER06 248]

Our fingers can be ready all we want. The fact is Jack thinks BK is a top 5 coach. Jack is delusional.

 

Good thing Jack wouldn't hesitate to throw Kelly under the bus to save himself. I feel extremely confident, if it gets to the point where Jack won't get rid of Kelly, the Boosters will force both of them out.

[Handsome Jack 0]

Good thing Jack wouldn't hesitate to throw Kelly under the bus to save himself. I feel extremely confident, if it gets to the point where Jack won't get rid of Kelly, the Boosters will force both of them out.

 

I don't know if ND really works like that.

[jbrown_9999 1,125]

our goal has been to get him in a CEO role where he can look over the whole program, because that’s among his greatest strengths

 

If being a CEO coach was one of Kelly's greatest strengths, then why was he not acting like a CEO coach before this?

 

A CEO's main responsibility is to 1) set strategic direction, 2) hire good people, 3) delegate to them, and 4) to hold them accountable/fire them if need be.

 

If, according to Jack, looking over the whole program is one of Kelly's greatest strengths, then why did he seem to fail at the last three items resulting in a 4-8 record? Is Jack OK with a coach that took 8 years to get himself in the CEO role that he truly needed to fill from the beginning?

[echo88 74]

I don't know if ND really works like that.

 

Handsome Jack, meet Kevin White. Kevin, this is HJ. You two have much to discuss.

 

http://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&sportCat=ncf&id=3422039

[Irish_Convert 1]

I can't see either surviving another win one, lose two season like last year. If they do, then you know ND doesn't care about the football team thriving any longer. They'll just point out some of the (Relatively) successful other sports.

[PJacksonsDred15 121]

Have we called Bob Stoops? If not, why?

[JTennant 290]

Have we called Bob Stoops? If not' date=' why?[/quote']

 

I don't think things start out with Jack reaching out directly. I think someone 2-3 connections away with ties to the university will reach out to Stoops or his rep. with an if we did, would you type of proposition before anything even semi-formal comes of a line of communication.

 

I truly believe we're fine. Wojo used Willinghams 10-3 to make our administration out to be the bad guy when the football team clearly stunk. We won some of those games without offensive touchdowns. I'm not saying they're saints, but I think we're on the right track and to hold onto Kelly after this year was clearly the right move to make.

 

We'll be fine. At least 9 wins this year and a nice bowl.. and you know we aren't canning him with 9 wins. No way je-sus. (h eh - s oo s )

[hawaiiirish 62]

Look that statement is exactly what any AD would say in this circumstance , it is a blend of obvious facts and perfunctory platitudes .

 

What would anyone expect.....

 

" Kelly has one more year and if he doesnt' deliver big time he and his staff are gone gone gone!!!"

 

does anyone really think any AD would say that,....

 

there is a clear element of truth that LONG & ELKO would NOT have wanted to sign on to a one year ultimatum,,,,,

 

So yes----

 

8 wins and Kelly will be fine and maybe even get by with 7 OUCH

 

But don't kid yourself another debacle of 5 wins and THAT will be THAT irrespective of the platitudes....

 

But Swarbrick is pretty safe IMHO by claiming this is a longer term commitment----ITS VERY UNLIKELY IMO that BK delivers another total lemon season.

 

So swarbrick can just relax as can Kelly and staff as LONG As they win MOST GAMES.

 

The statement to me is typical , fully expected and essentially meaningless!!!

 

We all KNOW 8 wins will be enough for him ....and if he delivers another 4 win calamity he will not survive absolutelty!

 

this is all a mere washout and should not be overblown in its meaning

 

 

Fact is the HIRES were good

Fact is the roster is pretty fair especially on offense

Fact is ODDS are high that 8 wins or more should be delivered

 

So not much risk or downside for SWARBRICK to make claims that Kelly does NOT have a 1 year ultimatum.

 

If your LIVING and DYING with Hopes for Kelly's removal swarbricks statement I agree is not encouraging but it is just so many words till wins and losses start to be registered

 

aloha

[JTennant 290]

Thanks Hawaii.. I had to Webster perfunctory

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,570]

Hi guys.

 

All my Career dealings have taught me something I'd like to share quickly. I follow actions and not words. The biggest action to me in the offseason were financial in nature. So I'm going to follow the money trail.

 

In the offseason OC and DC were signed to 3 year probably 2-2.5 million dollar contracts

 

So in my judgement. Kelly has 3 years. Weis probably did too except the first two of the rebuild showed little progress.

 

I still expect an annual review but I think as long as kelly makes progress Jack is committed to him for 2-3 years.

[Handsome Jack 0]

Look that statement is exactly what any AD would say in this circumstance , it is a blend of obvious facts and perfunctory platitudes .

 

What would anyone expect.....

 

" Kelly has one more year and if he doesnt' deliver big time he and his staff are gone gone gone!!!"

 

does anyone really think any AD would say that,....

 

there is a clear element of truth that LONG & ELKO would NOT have wanted to sign on to a one year ultimatum,,,,,

 

So yes----

 

8 wins and Kelly will be fine and maybe even get by with 7 OUCH

 

But don't kid yourself another debacle of 5 wins and THAT will be THAT irrespective of the platitudes....

 

But Swarbrick is pretty safe IMHO by claiming this is a longer term commitment----ITS VERY UNLIKELY IMO that BK delivers another total lemon season.

 

So swarbrick can just relax as can Kelly and staff as LONG As they win MOST GAMES.

 

The statement to me is typical , fully expected and essentially meaningless!!!

 

We all KNOW 8 wins will be enough for him ....and if he delivers another 4 win calamity he will not survive absolutelty!

 

this is all a mere washout and should not be overblown in its meaning

 

 

Fact is the HIRES were good

Fact is the roster is pretty fair especially on offense

Fact is ODDS are high that 8 wins or more should be delivered

 

So not much risk or downside for SWARBRICK to make claims that Kelly does NOT have a 1 year ultimatum.

 

If your LIVING and DYING with Hopes for Kelly's removal swarbricks statement I agree is not encouraging but it is just so many words till wins and losses start to be registered

 

aloha

 

8 wins should be easily attainable. And that's all Kelly needs because ND strives to be mediocre.

 

The real question this year is will Stanford, Duke(tiebreaker ), Northwestern and Vanderbilt have a better season than ND once again?

Edited July 13, 2017 by Handsome Jack