NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Brian Kelly has been named the recipient of the 2019 Stallings Award presented by Dr Pepper. The Stallings Award is presented annually to an exceptional Division I football coach that celebrates humanitarian contributions along with on-field achievements.
Kelly and his wife, Paqui, founded the Kelly Cares Foundation and since 2008 they have raised over $4.6 million to causes locally, nationally and globally through the foundation. in 2014, the Saint Joseph Health System announced the creation of the Paqui and Brian Kelly Comprehensive Breast Center. It is a state of the art facility funded entirely through the Kelly Cares Foundation.
Kelly, one of five active FBS coaches that have guided their respective schools to multiple undefeated regular seasons since 2009, led the 2018 Fighting Irish to the program’s 13th unbeaten, untied regular season in school history and first berth into the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame leads the nation in victories over FBS opponents (12), ranks second in Associated Press top-25 wins (four), ranks second in final College Football Playoff poll top-25 wins (three) and ranks tied for third in overall Power-5 wins (10).
The Irish have now posted back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since 1992-93. Notre Dame’s 22-3 record and .880 winning percentage over the last two seasons ranks fifth among all Power-5 schools. In fact, the Irish improved to 21-2 (.913) in their last 23 games. The current stretch is the best 23-game stretch since 1992-94 when Notre Dame also won 21 of 23 games.
In its 21-win surge over the past 23 games, Notre Dame has earned seven wins against top-25 foes. In the previous stretch from 1992-94, the Irish also managed seven wins against ranked opponents.
With 10 wins in 2015, 2017 and 2018, Brian Kelly joins Knute Rockne, Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz as the only Notre Dame coaches to hit the double-digit mark in wins three times.
— ND —