Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly agrees to new six-year deal with team

Published Jan. 29, 2016 1:36 p.m. ET

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Brian Kelly has agreed to terms on a new six-year contract with Notre Dame that runs through the 2021 season, the school announced Friday.

The school is expected to also invest in facilities and other program enhancements to improve the student-athlete experience, a source told FOX Sports.

Kelly was the consensus national coach of the year in 2012 when he led the Irish to a perfect 12-0 regular season and a berth in the BCS title game, which the Irish lost to Alabama. Kelly has built a 55-23 record (.705) in his first six seasons at Notre Dame (2010-15). His most recent team in 2015 won 10 games despite being decimated by injuries that included losing their starting QB, RB and several other key positions.

Kelly took over at Notre Dame after Charlie Weis went 35-27 in five seasons and was just 16-21 in the three years before Kelly arrived in South Bend.

"In the classroom, in the community and on the playing field, Brian has built the foundation of a great Notre Dame football program -- one that reflects this university's values and its unique relationship to the game of football," said Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick. "I could not be more excited about the future of our football program under Brian's leadership, and I am especially thankful that our student-athletes will continue to have the benefit of that leadership in the years to come."

Kelly ranks seventh among active NCAA FBS coaches in career winning percentage (.737). In 2012 Kelly led Notre Dame to its first undefeated regular season in 24 years (since 1988), and he guided the Irish that year to their highest national ranking (third Associated Press, fourth USA Today) to close a season since 1993 (second in both major polls that year).

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