Temple’s Al Golden, East Carolina’s Skip Holtz candidates for Cincinnati job

With Brian Kelly now at Notre Dame, and the University of Cincinnati head-coaching job vacant, the search for Kelly’s replacement has officially begun. Possible candidates already working in the system include associate head coach and defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs, and offensive coordinator and offensive Line coach Jeff Quinn.East Carolina University’s Skip Holtz, and Temples Al Golden are two other possible replacements. Holtz is the son of the famous Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, and is known for rebuilding the East Carolinas football program from scratch. Holtz inherited a program with just three wins in 25 games, however in the last three years he led the Pirates to three winning seasons, three bowl appearances and two consecutive conference USA championships. Like Holtz, Golden is known for rebuilding a program from scratch. Golden is in his fourth year at Temple and inherited a 3-31 program that had not seen a bowl game in 30 years. Golden slowly rebuilt the program and in 2009 he led the Owls to the Eagle Bank Bowl and their first winning record since 1990. – The News Record

Prepare for more Brian Kelly rumors

It won’t be long now. In a few weeks, when the regular season ends and vacancies begin to occur at high-profile programs, Brian Kelly’s name will likely be among the first linked to them. The University of Cincinnati football coach is one of the hottest - if not the hottest - coaching commodity in the country. Last year it was Tennessee and Washington. The year before that it was Michigan. This year it could be Louisville. And there’s always the prospect that Notre Dame might come calling if Charlie Weis gets fired. Kelly has come to expect this. So have UC officials. No matter how many new contracts Kelly signs with UC - and he just signed one earlier this year - it’s hard for observers across the country to believe that he’s really in for the long haul at UC, which has only recently discovered football success. Kelly takes it all in stride. He listens to the overtures, says he’s happy at UC and confident he can win a national championship there. While that may have seemed preposterous just a few years ago, the Bearcats’ current No. 5 ranking in the BCS standings is proof that it is possible. “When people look at this program and say you can do it here,” Kelly said, “then the questions will stop. It’s getting there.” – Cincinnati Enquirer

Brian Kelly should replace Charlie Weis at Notre Dame

Brian Kelly should replace Charlie  Weis as Notre Dame coach. That is the only conclusion I can reach after Weis once again failed to defeat USC, his fifth such loss to them… Yesterday it was poor play-calling and a porous defence in the third quarter that cost Notre Dame. Weis has had enough chances - let’s get Brian Kelly… Weis is done. His team is 4-2 headed for a minor bowl game. Notre Dame will never be a national power under him because, simply put, his teams cannot play defense… Weis has to go and Kelly should replace him. – Irish Central

Brian Kelly Could Bolt Cincinnati

Brian Kelly has a provision in his contract about facilities upgrades at Cincy, and his buyout is significantly lower if those upgrades aren’t complete by specific deadlines. Meanwhile, his Bearcats teams continue to emerge on the national scene. They win big games, they play on national television, they’ve done things never accomplished before at Cincinnati. The reality is, this joyride in Cincy won’t be around much longer if the university doesn’t improve facilities. True story: The Bearcats have no practice fields; they practice at aging Nippert Stadium. Kelly will be the hottest coach in the country by the end of the season. His staying or leaving for a better job is up to the Cincy administration. – Sporting News

Irish, Cavaliers, Buffaloes Eyeing Brian Kelly?

You’ll know if Virginia or Colorado’s AD read this interview if you see Hawkins or Groh fired in the middle of this week’s game. Brian Kelly, whose team is currently 2-0 after outscoring opponents 117-18 in the first two weeks, is gone. And if there’s any sense out there, this will be the biggest feeding frenzy in the coaching market since Urban Meyer moved to Florida… The only problem is that it’s hard to pinpoint a school that will need a coach this fall that seems like an upgrade from Cincinnati… Randy Shannon might get the boot at Miami if the ‘Canes season enters a tailspin, but that’s doubtful… There is, of course, the looming possibility that Charlie Weis gets cut loose, but Kelly was available last time around and didn’t get a sniff. Notre Dame might be the one place that would care about “fit”; the rumors surrounding Kelly’s abrasiveness and (gasp) pro-choice viewpoints might prevent him from being a serious candidate. Yeah, Weis isn’t exactly a peach, but he’s got a degree from ND, and that forgives you everything. So where is Kelly going to go? If Notre Dame doesn’t suck — likely — Virginia and Colorado might be the most attractive jobs out there. Prepare for Year Three of the Why Is Brian Kelly At Cincinnati mystery. – Sporting News

Brian Kelly: Cincinnati football program has no practice field

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly asked if its true that the program really does have no practice fields? “Yes, we have no practice fields. We practice at the stadium. There is no ability to go out and practice a spread, no-huddle offense. We don’t get 120 yards to do that. We have to do it on 50 yards because the defense is on the other half of the field. It is hard to do, and I give our kids a lot of credit for being able to overcome it and continue to win. And, of course, we have no indoor facility. In fact, to prepare for the Orange Bowl [last season], we had to practice in an indoor soccer facility. It obviously wasn’t a very good way to prepare our football team.” – Rivals.com