CINCINNATI — Notre Dame has settled on Brian Kelly as the man who can restore its faded glory, just as he turned Cincinnati into a national title contender.

Just 10 days after Charlie Weis was fired, it's up to Kelly to revive the fortunes of a team that just completed the worst decade of football in the history of the program with a 70-52 record and three losing seasons.

Kelly got a five-year deal from Notre Dame and will be introduced as coach in South Bend today. He declined to comment in Cincinnati, where he informed his players after their football banquet last night. He won't coach them in the Sugar Bowl.

The 47-year-old Kelly was 34-6 in three seasons at Cincinnati.