Texas Football: 3 HC candidates the Horns would love to get for 2021

3) HC candidates Texas football fans would love in 2021

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Head Coach

Since there is still at least a slight chance that the Longhorns regents, boosters, administration, etc. wants to enact a coaching search to at least see what’s out there this offseason to replace Herman, I do want to include realistic candidates. Texas would need to make both a proven and potent hire if they are to part ways with Herman any time in the near future.

One option that would be out there for the Longhorns, if he was interested in maybe getting a pay raise and be solidified in one conference, is the longtime Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly. Leading Notre Dame to earn a spot in the ACC Championship Game this fall and to get another spot in the College Football Playoff, Kelly has a lot of momentum on his side at the moment.

Although Notre Dame had their fair share of struggles during the 2010’s, Kelly largely helped to right the ship for them in a short matter of time. Outside of a really poor showing for the Fighting Irish during the 2016 season, finishing with a record of 4-8, Kelly produced a lot of positive results in the win column during his 11 year long tenure in South Bend.

Kelly’s total record as Notre Dame’s head coach for 11 seasons now sits at an impressive mark of 102-38 (.729 winning percentage). He’s also served as a head coach at the Group of Five level with Central Michigan and Cincinnati for seven years prior to taking the Notre Dame job.

Solid results on the field and on the recruiting trail of late for Kelly and the Fighting Irish is something that Longhorns fans long for from their own head coach.