Jack Swarbrick: No Truth To Brian Kelly Rumors
In a video released by Notre Dame on Friday, athletic director Jack Swarbrick states that head football coach Brian Kelly is committed to being back with the Irish next season.
Speaking with Notre Dame's Jack Nolan for his weekly radio show, Swarbrick discusses the team’s 4-8 finish this season and the future of the program in the 25-minute video.
The topic of conversation centers around Kelly, whose future as the leader of the Irish came into question late in the season.
"It was an extremely disappointing year,” Swarbrick said in the video. “Every player, every coach, myself, other administrators involved in the program, we all share the same view. There's no way around that conclusion. It's not bad breaks, it's not a play here or a play there, we didn't do what we need to do.”
Since the season concluded, Kelly has not been made available to the media. In the video, recorded prior to Friday, Swarbrick refers to a meeting he planned on having with Kelly on Friday.
Swarbrick refers to the state of the program, and this week in particular, as "business as usual."
Swarbrick released a statement through ESPN Oct. 21 expressing his “great confidence” in Kelly leading the Irish in 2017. Notre Dame has since not made any public statements about Kelly’s job status.
"I expressed that view two months ago,” Swarbrick said. “You don't express that view unless you've made an evaluation and made a decision. I wasn't saying it cavalierly. When you make that you have to say what if the rest of the season doesn't get better, am I still prepared to have this be my answer. And I know there was some media frustration that I wouldn't address this topic again, I'm not doing that. I did address it, and I addressed it publicly, and I did that with careful consideration.
“I didn't make any assumptions about the year getting better competitively. So I had the information then that I needed, if you get in the business of then reaffirming it every week you create an untenable situation. So that's why I let my statement stand. I wasn't avoiding giving anyone an answer on this topic — I had given an answer.”
It's less likely that Swarbrick makes similar statements in the future.
"I maybe must much less likely say anything next year publicly, because when I said it this year it came back and bit me in the butt. So I'm probably not inclined ever to comment again on a coach's status."
Swarbrick also touches on the NCAA investigation and the penalty that could force the team to forfeit 21 wins from the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Notre Dame has said it will appeal that penalty.
That information, Swarbrick said, was already known when he expressed his support for the 55-year-old Kelly in October. Kelly got a six-year contract extension in January.
“It's important to note that while that felt like news publicly, I had all that information,” Swarbrick said. “I mean the nature of this NCAA preceding was you agree to the underlying allegations and the fact basis. The only thing that was an issue is the penalty. So in midseason when I made the comment I did about Brian's future, I already had that information. This isn’t something new coming in late in the season that that I have to factor in. I knew it.”
Nolan asks Swarbrick in the video: "So there is no question in your mind that right now (Kelly) is fully focused on returning next year?”
Swarbrick responds: "Without question, that's right.”
Swarbrick was asked if he’s received any pressure from the board of trustees in regard to Kelly’s future. “No. It doesn’t work that way here,” Swarbrick said.
“I know people like to write about it that way and every coaching issue around the country somebody will write, ‘A group of boosters or trustees have gotten together and are going to pay for the buyout’ and all that. That’s just not how Notre Dame operates.”
Nolan asked Swarbrick about potential changes to the staff.
"I don't anticipate wholesale changes," Swarbrick said.
Other quotes from Swarbrick
"For all the disappointment of this season, this is one of the more remarkable teams in terms of its identity that I have been around.”
"It was an extremely disappointing year. Every player, every coach, myself, other administrators involved in the program, we all share the same view. There's no way around that conclusion. It's not bad breaks, it's not a play here or a play there, we didn't do what we need to do."
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