For at least the fourth time since the end of the regular season, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly is on the receiving end of a major coaching award.
The Walter Camp Foundation announced Wednesday that Kelly has been named as its 2012 Coach of the Year. Kelly is the first Irish coach to receive the award, which has been handed out annually since 1967.
The award is voted on by the nation’s 124 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.
As you know, Kelly led the Irish to the football program’s first undefeated regular season since 1988 -- the same year it won its last national title -- and will face Alabama in the BCS championship game next Monday. Notre Dame had won eight games in each of its first two seasons under Kelly before leaping back onto the national stage in Year Three.
In addition to the Camp honor, Kelly has also taken home coach of the year awards from the Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America and Home Depot.