Full Breakdown
Brian Kelly’s Unpaid Consulting Stint at Memphis: A Path Toward Redemption
6/11/2026, 3:12:04 PM
Post-LSU Consulting Role
After being dismissed by LSU in the middle of the 2025 season, former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly began serving as an unofficial, unpaid consultant for the Memphis Tigers. He is not on the Tigers’ staff and receives no salary, but he meets with head coach Charles Huff to discuss recruiting strategy and program development. Kelly’s involvement is part of a broader effort to rebuild his reputation and position himself for a future head-coaching opportunity.
Background: From Notre Dame to LSU Dismissal
Kelly led Notre Dame to a national-championship appearance in 2012 and two College Football Playoff berths before departing for LSU in 2021. His tenure at LSU ended after a 5-3 start in 2025, when the university terminated his contract. Since then, Kelly has toured the country offering advice to programs willing to listen, including multiple visits to Memphis.
Key Figures: Brian Kelly and Charles Huff
- Brian Kelly – 64-year-old former head coach of Notre Dame and LSU, now an unpaid consultant seeking to re-enter the coaching ranks.
- Charles Huff – First-year head coach of Memphis, a former Southern Miss coach hired to guide the Tigers toward Power-Five conference status.
Timeline of Engagement
- Mid-2025: LSU fires Kelly.
- June 8 2026: Huff reports a one-hour phone call with Kelly discussing recruiting department evolution.
- June 9 2026: Media reports confirm Kelly’s unpaid consulting role and note plans for later-season check-ins.
- Summer 2026: Huff indicates he will increase contact with Kelly as Memphis focuses on the 2027 roster and transfer-portal recruiting.
Focus on Recruiting and AI
Huff emphasized that Memphis wants “P4 eyes” to evaluate areas for improvement as the program targets a move to a Power-Five conference. Kelly highlighted changes in recruiting rules, noting that “the recruiting department is becoming more like the scouting department in the NFL.” In parallel, Kelly disclosed that he is using AI tools such as Claude to refine his coaching approach and prepare for future interviews with athletic directors.
Official Statements & Responses
- Huff described Kelly’s input as “humble” and valuable for “thinking about things we may run into that we haven’t run into yet.”
- Kelly told USA Today Sports that he “honestly want[s] to go and spend a little time with guys that coached with me,” and later said his AI work is “part of the next generation of coaching.”
- Both parties confirm that Kelly’s role is informal, unpaid, and not part of the official Memphis staff.
Criticism & Opposition
Notre Dame fans continue to resent Kelly for leaving the program, and several observers note that “current coaches don’t really consider him someone who can offer advice on how to run a team and win ballgames.” The lack of paid consulting offers and the absence of Kelly’s name in any offseason job listings suggest a perception problem that he must overcome.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Obviously we're trying to move to the P4,” Huff said. “So I wanted some P4 eyes on everything…” — Charles Huff, Memphis head coach.
- “Talking to him was really good, because there's a lot of humility in him,” Huff added. “He’s like, ‘There were some things that I wish I did different.’” — Charles Huff.
- “I honestly want to go and spend a little time with guys that coached with me,” — Brian Kelly, USA Today Sports interview.
- “Because it’s given me this chance to know what’s my passion and I love the relationships and I love being around the players.” — Brian Kelly, SI interview.
- “Every day, I’m trying to do my due diligence using Claude and AI, asking questions to build some of those answers that I think can be helpful for me as I get in front of an athletic director,” — Brian Kelly, SI interview.
Impact and Future Prospects
Kelly’s consulting provides Memphis with insights into modern recruiting practices, supporting the Tigers’ ambition to join a Power-Five conference. For Kelly, the unpaid role serves as a networking platform and a laboratory for AI-enhanced coaching, potentially improving his candidacy for future head-coaching openings.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether Kelly physically visited Memphis in the spring of 2026; Huff indicated a planned visit that “didn’t work out,” while later comments suggest increased remote interaction. Additionally, the exact list of other programs receiving Kelly’s informal advice remains unspecified.
What’s Next
Huff plans to increase contact with Kelly toward the end of the 2026 season as Memphis builds its 2027 roster. Kelly has signaled he will continue consulting while exploring AI tools and awaiting a “right coaching position.” Both parties aim to leverage this partnership to advance Memphis’s recruiting goals and Kelly’s return to a head-coaching role.
