Notre Dame AD Swarbrick backs Kelly on his weekly radio show

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Athletic director Jack Swarbrick says it's ''business as usual'' at Notre Dame and dismissed speculation that football coach Brian Kelly

Tom Coyne | Dec 3, 2016

Notre Dame AD Swarbrick backs Kelly on his weekly radio show /

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Athletic director Jack Swarbrick says it's ''business as usual'' at Notre Dame and dismissed speculation that football coach Brian Kelly won't be back next season.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the Fighting Irish finished the season 4-8, their second-worst record in five decades, Swarbrick said during his weekly radio show that aired Saturday that in evaluating Kelly, he doesn't look at this season in isolation. He noted the Irish finished 10-3 last season despite numerous injuries, describing that as one of the best coaching jobs he has seen. He called it ''a remarkable year.''

Swarbrick said he hadn't commented earlier because he told ESPN in October he expected Kelly to be back next season and he didn't feel like he needed to say anything further.

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Published Dec 3, 2016

TOM COYNE

Tom Coyne, a regular contributor to The Golfer’s Journal, is the author of four books: “A Gentleman’s Game,” "Paper Tiger,” “A Course Called Ireland” and “A Course Called Scotland.” His latest project, “A Course Called America,” is expected to be published in 2021. Coyne is an associate professor of English at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Devon, Pa. He can be reached at www.tomcoyne.com