New Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly was introduced Friday afternoon. (Daily Star photo/BRYAN WILD)

By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

Fans throughout Michiana are reacting favorably to Notre Dame’s hiring of former Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly.

Kelly is no stranger to the area, having coached at both Grand Valley State University and at Central Michigan University before moving on to the Bearcats in 2006.

Kelly has found success at every coaching stop.

He spent 13 seasons coaching the Lakers at Grand Valley and posted an impressive 118-35-2 overall record and won back-to-back Division II national championships in 2002 and 2003.

Grand Valley was 28-1 in those two years.

Former Dowagiac running back Brent Lesniak played for Kelly from 1999 until 2002 and was on the first national championship squad.

Lesniak, a life-long Fighting Irish fan, said that Kelly is the right man for the job.

“I think it’s a great hire,” he said in a telephone interview. “I think they needed a coach that’s in your face and gives you a little bit of tough love.”
Lesniak said that what he liked best about playing for Kelly was his honestly.
“When he said something, he made you believe it,” Lesniak recalled. “I liked it because he was in your face and he demanded perfection. When you didn’t do it perfectly he let you know about it, but when you did it right he made you feel like you did a great job.”

Lesniak said that his expectations for Notre Dame under Kelly are high.

“I honestly expect him to win immediately just like he did a Cincinnati,” he said. “I expect Notre Dame to be back in a BSC bowl game in the next couple of years because I think he’s that kind of coach.”

Dowagiac athletic director Greg Younger also knows Brian Kelly having coached against him while he was at Hillsdale.

Younger also believes he is the right man to turn the Notre Dame football fortunes around.

“I think Brian Kelly is a real good hire for Notre Dame,” Younger said. “Having coached against him when I was coaching at Hillsdale and he was at Grand Valley, his teams are always physical and well prepared. I know that his offense is very flexible and he can adapt his play calling to whatever type of quarterback and run game he has.

“He is also a good recruiter and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to recruiting on a national level now that it is available to him at ND versus the regional recruiting that he has been accustomed to at his other coaching stops,” he added.

Long-time Notre Dame fan and season ticket holder Tom Carlson of Hannapel Home Center is also excited about Kelly being named head coach.

“Brian Kelly is a great find for Notre Dame!” Carlson said. “An Irish-Catholic and coming from three winning football programs. His political science degree and past political experience with definitely help manage the many other off-the-field duties that will be demanded of him at Notre Dame. With the Kelly and ND partnership, they should have no problem landing some top notch recruits. Let’s get him on board right away and hit the ground running!”