Brian Kelly's Character issues - please help

Being a GVSU grad, I've held some pride in seeing Kelly climb the coaching ranks and kick butt everywhere he's been. Little Allendale, MI has churned out great football team after great football team because of Kelly's efforts.

Now, having said that, I *have* heard these same rumblings about his "character" and such...probably the same kind that have been brought up in regards to RR. But for serious, what specific things are we talking? I have heard his temper is second to none (Hi, I'm Irish), same going for his language (once again: Hi, I'm Irish).

Probably because he worked for Gary Hart.

I hate unsubstantiated rumors. If he's dirty, he's dirty. Why doesn't someone come out and say it?

It's kind of like the "Les Miles Sleep Over Rumor". I heard this. I heard that. I'm not in a position to say anything, but...I mean dang, if he banged someone's wife, why can't someone go on record with it?

I'm a student at Central right now. I was here when he left. It wasn't pretty.
I've worked for the football team, and have heard a lot of the players just flat hated him. I don't know if its every really been a documented fact, but I know from talking and hearing from people who were in close contact with him he wasn't the nicest guy. Mind you though this is coming from the players who each day change their mind as to how they feel about the head coach.
I think a lot of it has to do with Kelly opting for CMU over GVSU and the same with Cincinnati over CMU. A little better opportunity...he just left and pissed off a lot of people when he did.
No hard feelings here though, he's doing a lot better when he's at, good luck where ever he ends up!

Well, a handful of his players did beat somebody to death. That was beyond his control but it sure doesn't look good. To some people I'm sure that the incident shows he's willing to recruit kids with character issues as long as they can help him win. (I think that sort of thing is bunk, but people are idiots)

When talking about the murder he said this about the players involved: “A number of them were African Americans that had been in that culture of violence.” That generated an uproar and labeled him a racist. I guess there was also a Free Press article implying that he was involved in a murder cover up, but i can't find it.

Here's a CMU article talking about the Freep article.

http://media.www.cm-life.com/media/storage/paper906/news/2005/09/28/Voic...

As a huge proponent of a BK hire last year I researched this long and hard. I think I read every possible bit of info that was out on the web pertaining to the CMU murder investigation, which seems to be the only publicly discussed sticking point with BK. This has been covered at length on this blog so I won't rehash. BK is a dem who called a spade a spade and that rubbed some people the wrong way. His analysis was right on and harmless.

Outside of that, I have found absolutely nothing else. I will be surprised if someone here posts something to the contrary.

If ND, PSU or WASH pass on BK then I'll believe there are some skeletons in the closet we don't know about that any school should be george o' leery about (e.g. stuff like a catholic guy drinking problem, DUI's, etc.)

For now I've concluded that MSU passed on him b/c he wasn't the kind of stable, hard ass coach the program needed. UCLA interviewed him but inevitably hired another strong coach with alma mater ties to the program. Nebraska interviewed him but couldn't pass on fan-favorite Pelini a second time. These were the top-notch jobs available. I am purely speculating that BM passed on him primarily b/c of cronyism and poor research. But is that so far fetched given his general bumbling of the search?

BK is also arrogant but so what? He is a hero and already LOVED in Cincinnati, a city I lived in and have friends who are alums.

I'm really hoping some dirt will turn up on BK so I won't continue to harbor resentment towards BM for not at least interviewing him. This would also be a great opportunity for me to look stupid for changing my handle to "BKWSDU" (Brian Kelly Will Someday Destroy Us) after it became obvious he was never going to get an interview.

People close to CMU say 1) the guy was just an absolute asshole to everyone around him, including administrators and alums and 2) he showed very limited concern for the academic well-being of his players. People were saying this while he was still there; this is not just sour grapes from his departure (though the way he left left wasn't pretty either).

If he's named Notre Dame's Head Coach, and right now I'm thinking that's a likely outcome, I will hate him will all my cotton pickin maize and blue heart. Because, dammit, it's my right as a Michigan fan to hate every Notre Dame head coach. The tradition continues

part of it is just the general sentiment that if there weren't something really shady about him, he'd have a better job (perhaps in ann arbor or east lansing) by now. that's not really fair, but it might also be right

(not really endorsing this line of reasoning, just saying it's out there)

If I may echo the sentiments.... I heard from a staff member that worked under Kelly that he was, well... hated.

While being hated has its downside. I believe it was Brian Cook (IIRC) that wrote a glimpse about Mangino and his asshole reputation. He said something to the effect of: You don't turn Kansas into a power by being a nice guy. Agreed. I think the abrasive, unsettling temperament has its advantages, if used correctly.

There's also the flipside: e.g. Joe Mackovic of Arizona creating a mutiny with actions like: telling his TE he's an embarrassment to his father after a dropped pass.

Also A GVSU alum, I worked in the athletic building when Coach Kelly took over for Coach Beck. (incidentally, Coach Beck left to be the DC at Notre Dame) At first impressions, Coach Kelly was an arrogant, young, egomaniac. He offended a lot of people with his attitude. That being said, he didn't have overwhelming talent when he began, but he won. His teams responded.

Moreover, I worked the football games on the sideline. He was hot-headed and foul-mouthed. Of all the coaches I was around, including the opposition, he was the worst!

I can see how he could annoy and offend people, however, NEVER was there any hint of inappropriate behavior in regards to school or NCAA rules!

Basically, he's a self-centered jerk who doesn't cheat, and he WINS! The latter forgives the two former.

Well, Charlie Weis isn't exactly the nicest guy either. RRod is known for being a dick. Players had to learn not to take it personally. How many asshole coaches are there in D-1? Countless. I bet even Lloyd had his moments.

The point is, to succeed, you might have to hurt a few feelings along the way.

Bo was a self centered jerk, too. Coaches don't tend be embrace the fans until they've retired and the attention becomes less "Get the fuck out of my face" and more "I love you because you remember who I am".

I pray to the magical unicorn that he stays at Cinci. He would be a nightmare at ND. I hate those bastards so much!!! He will win wherever he goes! I'm donating to the Mississippi State Coaching Fund. That would be a great place for him!

Iowa State, Nebraska, Michigan State, Tennessee... all have passed on Kelly in the past few years.

Where there's smoke...

How can you be overrated consistently winning Conference and National Championships! He wins! Does that mean winning is overrated? They all may have passed on him because he's an ass, but his record speaks for itself!

If I'm looking for a new coach, I couldn't care less whether he pisses people off or rubs people the wrong way. The demands on a college football coach nowadays are insane. As fans, we demand that a coach win consistently, make sure that his players go to class, don't cheat, and appropriately punish players who break the law. A guy who can accomplish those goals is very rare, regardless of personal style. If you ask the world of a guy, you don't really have much of a right to dictate that he be a nice guy all the time.