Kirk Herbstreit enters new name in USC head coaching search

As rumors swirl regarding USC’s head coaching search, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit entered a new name in the coaching search. While the ESPN analyst admitted while he doesn’t believe he would leave, the Trojans should “knock on” Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly’s door.

“I think Brian Kelly would be an interesting hire, an interesting name” he said on SiriusXM. “I’m not saying Brian Kelly would leave Notre Dame, I’m just saying if I were USC, I might knock on his door and talk to him. I don’t think Brian Kelly would leave anywhere, I think he’s in a really good spot but it’s worth asking.”

The timing of Herbstreit’s comments comes days after Kelly’s Fighting Irish defeated USC 31-17 on Saturday. Kelly has led Notre Dame to a 6-1 record this season, with the lone loss coming to No. 2-ranked Cincinnati.

Brian Kelly, 60, is in his 12th season at Notre Dame. He holds a 87-40 record in his time with the program, leading the Fighting Irish to three College Football Playoff appearances and ten bowl games, including one that was vacated.

Prior to his tenure at Notre Dame, Kelly coached Cincinnati, where USC coaching candidate Luke Fickell is currently the head coach, from 2006-2009, Central Michigan from 2004-2006 and Grand Valley State from 1991-2003. In his career, Kelly has won two NCAA Division II Championships, two AP College Football Coach of the Year honors, three Big East Coach of the Year honors and ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2020, when Notre Dame was joined the ACC for a single season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brian Kelly is the latest high-profile name to be linked to USC recently. Recently, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was linked to both USC and LSU, but he quickly rejected any speculation. Conflicting reports emerged surrounding USC’s interest in former Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher.

Former NFL head coach Jeff Fisher was linked with the USC head coaching vacancy by the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. Despite the obvious connection, conflicting reports surfaced Sunday night. According to Pac-12 insider Jon Wilner’s source, there is no fire behind the smoke.

“Jeff Fisher not a candidate for USC opening and won’t be,” Wilner said

Other candidates from the USC job remain in the conversation. Penn State head coach James Franklin, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell have remained at the center of all talks.