After going 4-8 in 2016 and losing 3 of their 5 ACC games to Duke, NC State and VT, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly decided it was time for major changes. So now he has fired and hired 7 new staff members. Most notably he has hired defensive coordinator Mike Elko from Wake Forest (2016, 7-6, 3-5 ACC) and offensive coordinator Chip Long from Memphis (2016, 8-5, 5-3 AAC).
Prior to this Brian Kelly called his own plays and he helped run the defense after firing his DC mid-season with no replacement. This will be the first time Kelly has turned the offense over to a coordinator and he said he chose Chip Long because his style of offense is basically the same as Kelly's.
These changes along with the changes to the other 5 coaches and staffers appear to be an all or nothing approach by Kelly to save his job. After going 4-8 last year with one of the easiest schedules in the nation ND fans are screaming for Kelly to be fired.
This year's ND schedule will not be so easy (ACC Games):
Temple
Georgia
at BC
at Michigan State
Miami of Ohio
at UNC
USC
NC State
Wake Forest
at Miami
Navy
at Stanford
Kelly may need 9-3 or better in order to save his job. Once again the ACC games will be a challenge.
Prior to this Brian Kelly called his own plays and he helped run the defense after firing his DC mid-season with no replacement. This will be the first time Kelly has turned the offense over to a coordinator and he said he chose Chip Long because his style of offense is basically the same as Kelly's.
These changes along with the changes to the other 5 coaches and staffers appear to be an all or nothing approach by Kelly to save his job. After going 4-8 last year with one of the easiest schedules in the nation ND fans are screaming for Kelly to be fired.
This year's ND schedule will not be so easy (ACC Games):
Temple
Georgia
at BC
at Michigan State
Miami of Ohio
at UNC
USC
NC State
Wake Forest
at Miami
Navy
at Stanford
Kelly may need 9-3 or better in order to save his job. Once again the ACC games will be a challenge.
