Jones to follow Kelly as Bearcats coach

By Bud L. Ellis

Go ahead and book it: Butch Jones will be the next head football coach at Notre Dame.

All joking aside, it’s easy to say that. After all, Jones followed Brian Kelly at Central Michigan when Kelly left to take over at Cincinnati. And now that Kelly has left the Bearcats to take the Notre Dame job, Jones has been hired as Kelly’s replacement.

Jeff Quinn still will coach unbeaten Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, New Year’s Night against Florida in the Louisiana Superdome. But the speculation over who would assume the reins of the rising Cincinnati program following Kelly’s departure is finished.

After succeeding Kelly at Central Michigan, Jones went 26-13 in three season. In 2009, he directed the Chippewas to an 11-2 record and an invite to the GMAC Bowl.

In getting Jones, Cincinnati keeps the same offensive philosophy that Kelly made so successful for the Bearcats – the spread offense. Under the wide-open attack, the Bearcats have thrived, winning all 12 games this season and rising to No. 4 in the polls following the regular season.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:45 pm by bud

Tags: Brian Kelly, Butch Jones, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Florida, GMAC Bowl, Jeff Quinn, Louisiana Superdome, Notre Dame, Sugar Bowl