If there was ever a string of unlikeable college football head coaches, the LSU Tigers could arguably claim that distinction. Most recently, they hired Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss. He replaced someone many fans found even more unlikeable: Brian Kelly.
There’s no doubt Kelly is a good football coach. However, his personality and the way he handles business have often rubbed people the wrong way.
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That became even more apparent when prominent college football analyst Paul Finebaum reflected on interviewing Kelly for three consecutive years. During a recent appearance at the 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit, Finebaum compared those conversations to an unpleasant medical procedure.
“A couple years ago, Nick Saban started doing Pat McAfee every week, so we got a call from LSU and Brian Kelly saying he wanted to do our show every week,” Paul Finebaum said. “Now I don’t know if any of you know Brian Kelly, spending 20 minutes with Brian Kelly for three consecutive years every Monday? I think I would rather have a colonoscopy on the stage right now without anesthesia. It’s that painful … So there’s always a trade-off, and we bought it and ended up dying with it,”
Kelly has tried to emulate Saban in several ways since arriving at Notre Dame. However, when it mattered most, he never matched Saban’s sustained dominance. As Finebaum’s comments suggest, he also never managed the media side of the job as effectively.
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Kelly remains one of the more polarizing figures in college football coaching. He has built a track record of assembling competitive programs, but he has also developed a reputation for being difficult to work with.
There have been plenty of examples over the years, from stories about his treatment of graduate assistants to his overnight departure from Notre Dame.
Kelly is currently out of coaching after LSU fired him. He never fully won over the fan base and eventually wore out his welcome with the administration.
Still, it seems likely Kelly will get another opportunity to coach. Coaches don’t approach 300 career wins by accident.
The real question is whether Kelly will change his approach this late in his career.
