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Brian Kelly Shares Biggest Misstep He Made With His Early Coaching Staff At LSU

by Staff Reporter

June 13, 202534 Comments

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

During a recent appearance on ESPN's College Gameday Podcast, Brian Kelly talked about adjusting to Baton Rouge since being hired in 2021.

Kelly said the transition from South Bend to Baton Rouge was easy for him and his family, but his biggest misstep early on as the Tigers' head coach was not hiring a staff with strong connections to Louisiana and the South.

quote:
"I think if there were any misstep that I made, it wasn’t about fitting into the culture, but rather putting together a staff early on that would best represent the recruiting of the South," Kelly said.

"You have to win the state of Louisiana and hold your borders. And then the ability to connect and be with the kids. You have to be around him all the time, and that’s the way you recruit in the SEC."

"So I think the adjustments that I made were much more internal than they were external. We’ve loved it here; it’s been very comfortable for us. I think a lot of it has to do with the people and the faith. The adjustments that I have had to make are much more with our staff and philosophy than anything else."

Filed Under: LSU Football

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Originally published on TigerDroppings.com

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BEATIGER•8 months

Dude early whiffed on multiple staff hires. His initial DC hire was atrocious. He let Baker and Raymond go to other SEC schools, only to hire them back years later. That move cost LSU/TAF/backers jillions of wasted dollars, and the defensive side of the ball was in a wasteland. That being said, he made some course correction moves and the staff now looks pretty good. Possible exception is Sloan who has a lot to prove this year. As a dyed in the purple and gold Tiger, I hope we put it all together this year for a fantastic season. GEAUX TIGERS!!

how333•8 months

Matt House could have been born in Baton Rouge, to Cajun parents and he would have still been a horrible coach.

SPEEDY•8 months

Matt House wasting that Jayden Daniels led 2023 offense is the biggest misstep. At a MINIMUM, that was a playoff team with just an average defense

LSU82Cajun•8 months

Way below average. Ranked lower than almost every major college. Mcneese States defense & their DC would have helped LSU win a NC that year

Geaux Guy•8 months

Ryan Clark created a cancer that hopefully has run its course.

ThatTahoeOverThere•8 months

Kelly finally understands this ain't the big east.

KING NOLA•8 months

I swear if an outsider visited TD they actually would think LSU has the worst fricken fan base just from the comments.

theballguy•8 months

You would think that about Alabama fans too if you want to Tidefans. Just saying. You guys aren't so bad really.

Doctor K•8 months

Yeah, probably the same people that calling for couch Johnsons head 3 months ago!

grizzlylongcut•8 months

Hiring dumbass Matt House was his biggest mistake

bdavids09•8 months

And Brian Pollian

biscuitsngravy•8 months

That's my coach!!!

UncleLester•8 months

Was it that he hired the incompetent Nepo Baby Brian Polian to run special teams?

SkintBack•8 months

Don't get too comfortable

bluebuck1•8 months

Had he kept Kevin Faulk and Corey Raymond on staff, their presence impacts defensive recruiting overall and Daniels would have won a Championship. That simple. The presence of LSU legends impact parents guiding their kids to LSU. We are about to lose the number one Louisiana recruit, because the wrong person is the lead recruiter and TAM has been pouring money into his pocket. With the right lead recruiter, he would feel comfortable saying what it would take to go to LSU.

Doctor K•8 months

Well sounds like you know it all better the Him and have never made any missteps in your life. Yeah right! He has done and will do a great job. Geaux tigers.. how much money have you put up?

CreoleGumbo•8 months

BKs hubris cost us 3 years. Not bashing. Like BK but dang.

rocksteady•8 months

What exactly is Brian Kelly good at? Be specific please. I’ll start: he is incredible at truly believing all the crap that comes out of his mouth about it being anyone else’s fault but his own about why he can’t get it done. How many more years left till this pompous nerd goes back home?

alschroed•8 months

Kelly's biggest problem was hiring bad coaches. His second mistake was his inability to recruit great HS QBs. He still hasn't recruited a decent one yet.

Lcguy•8 months

Man are you serious. He went and found a Heisman trophy winner. Getting them in the portal is just as important as HS now days.

Butch Baum•8 months

Kelly thought he as a smart yankee could come down here and win a natty no problem

SOL2•8 months

He should have kept more of O's staff

TaderSalad•8 months

Unimpressed with CBK. 10mil a year coaches should not be learning on the job

Dissident Aggressor•8 months

100mm for missteps
cant wait for this 8-4 shite show to be over…

SomeLSUguy•8 months

I'm sure watching a game with you is a blast... Parrain, is that you?!?!

PUB•8 months

Learn to spell Defense and special teams. Both have been horrendous and major liabilities for 3 years in a row. For $100 Million, either stop making excuses or resign knowing you are unable to do the job.

SomeLSUguy•8 months

And who would you like to replace him with... to start the process all over again with? Name your coach, I'll listen. But please tell me how you plan on luring them away from the already sweet/national contender job they already possess.

Tic44•8 months

and dancing with Arik Gilbert

Aussietigerfan•8 months

Think you mean Danny Lewis who ended up at Alabama lol

ExpoTiger•8 months

That is correct

El Jefe de Tu Mama•8 months

Wrong player.

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