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Notre Dame Football: 5 early candidates to replace Brian Kelly

By Connor Muldowney

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell leads the Cincinnati Bearcats onto the field to warm up before the NCAA football game between Cincinnati Bearcats and Murray State Racers on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.Murray State Racers At Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell leads the Cincinnati Bearcats onto the field to warm up before the NCAA football game between Cincinnati Bearcats and Murray State Racers on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.Murray State Racers At Cincinnati Bearcats /
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Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell reacts during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell reacts during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Matt Campbell, Iowa State HC

Every year, Matt Campbell is one of the most talked-about names in the coaching carousel. He’s always involved in prominent coaching searches and I think that has to be the case here.

Campbell is 42-33 in six seasons with Iowa State and that doesn’t seem all that impressive, but you have to realize how bad of a program the Cyclones had before he got there. They went 3-9 in his first year and improved all the way to 9-3 in 2020. He has done a complete 180 with the program but he still hasn’t won a conference title.

What might hold Notre Dame fans back here is the fact that Campbell said that “winning the Big 12 was never my goal” this season when asked about his disappointment in not finishing at the top of the conference. That’s not the type of attitude that will flourish in South Bend.

Still, Campbell is one of the nation’s best coaches and if he can turn a program like Iowa State into a perennial Big 12 contender, just imagine what he could do with the resources at Notre Dame.

As long as he makes the College Football Playoff his No. 1 goal every year, I think he’d be a good fit as a Midwest guy.

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