Northwestern takes huge swing by hiring highly-touted long-time NFL, college coordinator
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Northwestern takes huge swing by hiring highly-touted long-time NFL, college coordinator originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Northwestern made a big splash Monday by cleaning house offensively and hiring former NFL and college coach Chip Kelly, who has had multiple stops along the way. Most notably in the Big Ten with formerly Pac-12 teams, the Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins, alongside the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes scattered between 2007-2024.
Kelly spent this past season as the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive coordinator before being fired, making his return to the NFL for the first time since 2016.
Kelly's arrival in Evanston is an upgrade for coach David Braun, as the Wildcats beat Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, 34-7.
"I am honored to join the Northwestern Football program," Kelly said in a statement. "This program and university are clearly on the rise, and the values of the people and this place align with my own. I am grateful for the opportunity. There is tremendous potential under Coach Braun's leadership, and I'm ready to contribute to this team. There is great momentum around the program, and the opening of the new Ryan Field reflects Northwestern's commitment to excellence and innovation. It will be a major asset as we continue to move forward, and I am excited to get to Evanston."
Braun said he is excited to learn from Kelly as he continues to turn around the Wildcats' football program.
"They are going to ask hard questions about the vision, commitment, investment and alignment," Braun said. "I'm confident he wouldn't have chosen Northwestern if he didn't believe in my leadership and the alignment that exists [at Northwestern]."
AD Mark Jackson also weighed in on Kelly's hiring.
"Our student-athletes perform at an exceptional level academically and competitively, and we proudly maintain one of the strongest retention rates in the country, due in large part to Coach Braun's leadership and the culture he has established," Jackson said. "We are excited to welcome Chip into the Northwestern family as we prepare to compete at the new Ryan Field, a college football stadium unlike any other ever built, underscoring our commitment to sustained success on and off the field."
Whether Kelly can fix the offense remains to be seen, but given the caliber of players he has coached, there is reason for optimism in Evanston.
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