LSU Tigers football head coach Brian Kelly. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

New LSU coach Brian Kelly seemingly debuts Southern accent in speech to fans

By Adam Stites | Last updated 12/2/21

Brian Kelly is a Massachusetts native who has spent his college football coaching career in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. So the brand new Southern accent Kelly seemed to have when he spoke to LSU fans Thursday didn't go unnoticed.

Kelly, 60, addressed fans at a LSU basketball game in Baton Rouge on Thursday, two days after he was officially announced as the next football coach at the university. A clip of his brief speech went viral due to his accent.

Brian Kelly making his welcome speech at halftime of the Ohio/LSU basketball game tonight. pic.twitter.com/Jk3bjAvrh8
— Mike Bundt (@Mike_Bundt) December 2, 2021

ESPN's Jeff Darlington went so far as to splice together clips of Kelly saying the word "family" in his Notre Dame farewell speech on Tuesday and in his Thursday speech to LSU fans.

I decided to go super investigatory. Here’s Brian Kelly saying “family” two days ago at Notre Dame… and Brian Kelly saying “family” today at LSU. Some of my best work. pic.twitter.com/JTzuIA2s2n
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 3, 2021

Kelly compiled a 92-39 record at Notre Dame, including an appearance in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game and two appearances in the College Football Playoff. His record does not include 21 wins that were vacated due to academic violations.

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