Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly has picked up a national honor after leading the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff as the No. 3-ranked team in the nation. On Monday, December 17, the Associated Press announced that Kelly has been named the 2018 AP College Football Coach of the Year. Kelly becomes the third coach in history to win the award twice.
Kelly previously won the award in 2012.
The 57-year-old edged out Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and first-year coach Josh Heupel of Central Florida for the award.
Kelly took over as head coach of Notre Dame in 2010, following a three-year stint leading the Cincinnati Bearcats. Kelly was also previously a head coach at Central Michigan and Grand Valley State, which he led to two NCAA Division II national championships.
Throughout his career, Kelly holds a 231-90-2 overall record with a 5-4 mark in bowl play. While at Grand Valley State, Kelly racked up an 11-4 record in the Division II playoffs. He is also a two-time AFCA Division II Coach of the Year, three-time Home Depot Coach of the Year, three-time Big East Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, and Walter Camp Coach of the Year. A majority of his honors came following the 2012 season.
Kelly and the Fighting Irish are currently preparing for their national semifinal matchup against the No. 2 Clemson Tigers in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Saturday, December 29. Kickoff at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.