After leading the University of Notre Dame to an undefeated regular season and its first-ever BCS Championship berth, former Grand Valley State University head football coach Brian Kelly has been honored as the Home Depot Coach of the Year. It was the second time that Kelly, who also coached at Central Michigan University and the University of Cincinnati, has won the award after being honored in 2009 at Cincinnati. Kelly has seen success at each stop in his head coaching career, but still remains one of the most successful coaches in GVSU history.

Kelly compiled at 118–35–2 including back-to-back national titles in 2002 and 2003 while at GVSU. Kelly, along with former GVSU head coach Chuck Martin — now Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator — have led the school to its first undefeated season since Lou Holtz led the Irish to the national championship in 1988.