Brian Kelly Net Worth

Brian Kelly is an American college football coach with an estimated net worth of $60 million. He is best known for his successful tenure at Notre Dame and his high-profile coaching career at Louisiana State University. Over more than three decades, Kelly built a reputation for turning struggling football programs into contenders and became one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

Kelly began his head coaching career at Grand Valley State University, where he led the Lakers to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships in 2002 and 2003. He later coached Central Michigan and Cincinnati before taking over at Notre Dame in 2010.

During his 12 seasons in South Bend, Kelly became the school’s all-time winningest coach, compiling a 113-40 record. He also led the Fighting Irish to the 2012 BCS National Championship Game and several major bowl appearances.

In late 2021, Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU after agreeing to a 10-year, $95 million contract. The deal made him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. Although he won 34 games during his LSU tenure, the program struggled to maintain its momentum, and LSU fired him during the 2025 season.

Brian Kelly Salary

Brian Kelly’s salary has grown significantly throughout his coaching career.

His largest coaching contract came when he joined LSU in 2021. The school signed him to a 10-year, $95 million contract, giving him an average annual salary of approximately $9.5 million.

The contract included a base salary that started at $9 million and increased annually, reaching $10 million in the final year. It also included performance bonuses tied to bowl appearances and national championships.

With incentives included, the total value of the agreement could exceed $100 million.

Before joining LSU, Kelly earned millions of dollars annually at Notre Dame. His reported annual compensation during his final years with the Fighting Irish ranged from approximately $5.4 million to $8.1 million.

Earlier in his career, Kelly also earned coaching salaries at Cincinnati and other college programs, as well as during assistant coaching positions.

Early Life

Brian Kelly was born on October 25, 1961, in Everett, Massachusetts. He was raised in Chelsea and attended St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers.

Kelly attended Assumption College, where he played football as a linebacker for four years.

He graduated in 1983 with a degree in political science. Rather than immediately leaving the school, Kelly stayed at Assumption and began his coaching career. He worked as a linebackers coach, defensive coordinator and softball coach before moving into larger college football positions.

Grand Valley State

Kelly joined Grand Valley State University in 1987 as a graduate assistant and defensive backs coach.

He later became the school’s defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator before taking over as head coach in 1991.

Kelly spent more than a decade leading the Grand Valley State Lakers. During his tenure, he won five conference championships and established the program as a major force in NCAA Division II football.

The highlight came in 2002 and 2003, when Grand Valley State won consecutive NCAA Division II national championships.

The Lakers went 14-0 in 2002 and 14-1 in 2003. Kelly was named AFCA Division II Coach of the Year in both seasons.

He finished his Grand Valley State career with a 118-35-2 record.

Central Michigan University

In 2004, Kelly became head coach at Central Michigan University.

He inherited a program that had struggled in the years before his arrival. The Chippewas finished 4-7 during his first season.

Kelly quickly changed the direction of the program. In 2005, Central Michigan recorded its first winning season in seven years, finishing 6-5.

The team improved further in 2006, posting a 9-4 record. Central Michigan won the MAC Championship and followed it with a victory in the Motor City Bowl.

Kelly’s success at Central Michigan increased his profile and helped lead to his next opportunity at Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Kelly became head coach at the University of Cincinnati in late 2006.

He made an immediate impact, leading the Bearcats to a victory in the International Bowl.

In 2007, his first full season, Cincinnati won 10 games for the first time in nearly six decades. Kelly was named Big East Coach of the Year.

The Bearcats continued improving in 2008. Kelly led the team to its first Big East championship and earned another conference Coach of the Year award.

The 2009 season was even more successful. Cincinnati went undefeated during the regular season and reached the Sugar Bowl against Florida.

Kelly was again named Big East Coach of the Year, making it three consecutive seasons in which he received the honor.

He left Cincinnati with a 34-6 record.

Notre Dame

In late 2009, Notre Dame hired Kelly as its new head coach.

Kelly’s first season ended with an 8-5 record and a victory over Miami in the Sun Bowl.

Notre Dame went 8-4 in 2011 and reached the Champs Sports Bowl. The Fighting Irish lost the bowl game to Florida State.

The 2012 season became the defining moment of Kelly’s early Notre Dame career.

The Fighting Irish finished the regular season undefeated and reached the top of the BCS rankings for the first time in school history. Notre Dame advanced to the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama.

The Fighting Irish ultimately lost to the Crimson Tide, but Kelly received several major coaching honors for the season. He was named AFCA Coach of the Year, AP Coach of the Year and Walter Camp Coach of the Year.

Notre Dame’s Success Under Brian Kelly

Kelly continued to build Notre Dame into a consistent national contender.

In 2014, the Fighting Irish finished 8-5 and defeated LSU in the Music City Bowl.

Notre Dame improved to 10-3 in 2015 before losing to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

The 2016 season was a major setback. Notre Dame finished 4-8, its worst record in a decade.

Kelly responded with a strong turnaround in 2017. The Fighting Irish finished 10-3 and defeated LSU in the Citrus Bowl.

The 2018 season was another major success. Notre Dame went undefeated during the regular season and advanced to the College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish eventually lost to Clemson in the Cotton Bowl.

Kelly was named AP Coach of the Year and Home Depot Coach of the Year following the season.

Notre Dame went 11-2 in 2019 and won the Camping World Bowl.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the college football schedule. Notre Dame joined the ACC for the season and won all 10 of its regular-season games. The Fighting Irish eventually lost to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.

Kelly coached his final season at Notre Dame in 2021. The team finished 11-1.

He left the school with a 113-40 record and became Notre Dame’s all-time winningest coach.

LSU Contract

In late 2021, Brian Kelly made a major career move by leaving Notre Dame for LSU.

The Tigers signed him to a 10-year, $95 million contract, which averaged approximately $9.5 million per year.

The agreement immediately placed Kelly among the highest-paid coaches in college football.

The contract included a base salary that started at $9 million and increased over time. It also included incentives for postseason success and national championships.

The size of the contract reflected the expectations surrounding LSU. The program had won a national championship in 2019 and had established itself as one of the leading programs in college football.

LSU Career

Kelly’s first season at LSU showed considerable promise.

The Tigers finished the 2022 regular season with a 10-4 record and won the SEC West. LSU advanced to the SEC Championship Game but lost to Georgia.

The Tigers finished the season with a dominant 63-7 victory over Purdue in the Citrus Bowl.

LSU again won 10 games in 2023. The season was highlighted by quarterback Jayden Daniels, who won the Heisman Trophy.

However, LSU’s defense became an increasing concern. The 2023 defense allowed nearly 28 points per game and ranked among the weaker units in the SEC.

The Tigers finished 2024 with a 9-4 record and ended the season unranked.

Brian Kelly’s Firing and $54 Million Buyout

Kelly’s fourth season at LSU began with optimism.

The Tigers opened the 2025 season with a 4-0 record, including a road victory over Clemson. However, a series of SEC losses changed the direction of the season.

LSU’s struggles culminated in a 49-25 home loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers surrendered 35 unanswered points in the second half.

LSU dismissed Kelly the following day.

At the time of his firing, Kelly had a 34-14 record at LSU, including a 19-10 record in SEC play.

His buyout was estimated at approximately $54 million, making it one of the largest coaching buyouts in college football history.

The buyout was reportedly second only to the approximately $76 million Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fisher after firing him in 2023.

Personal Life

Brian Kelly is married to Paqui Kelly, and the couple has three children: sons Patrick and Kenzel and daughter Grace.

Both of Kelly’s sons played football at Notre Dame while he was head coach of the Fighting Irish. His daughter Grace attended Boston College.

Kelly and his wife also established the Kelly Cares Foundation, which supports cancer awareness and research. The foundation reflects Paqui Kelly’s experience as a breast cancer survivor.

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