Depends

If he left it better than he found it and the job was attractive to successors, I would deem it "successful" relatively speaking.

It would not be get-him-a-statue successful. In the pantheon of ND coaches, he probably would be hanging out behind Elmer Layden.

Replies:

I think the timeline matters - BmoreIrish 2021-05-04 20:41:05
Along with agreeing with Andy ... - CJC 2021-05-04 18:43:36
- Exactly. Longevity does not correspond with success - knutesteen 2021-05-04 20:53:00
- I think they should build a statue of Kelly, - MukIrish 2021-05-04 19:01:55
  - I think they should build one 50% the size of the others. - Giggity_Giggity 2021-05-04 20:34:59
    - That would be cruel and unusual punishment. - SWPaDem 2021-05-05 07:32:28
not one (to date) major bowl win over a major program - irishrock 2021-05-04 16:43:14
- Got our doors blown off in all three playoff games as well. * - G.K.Chesterton 2021-05-04 22:25:22
I heartily disagree - ACross 2021-05-04 16:22:30
- But do you strenuously object? * - usmcirish 2021-05-05 11:50:32
- True, but I place much more of the blame on Swarbrick - garbageplate 2021-05-04 21:41:39
  - Plenty of blame to go around. Jenkins, BoT, other enablers. - irishintheville 2021-05-05 10:15:34
- Amen. * - Giggity_Giggity 2021-05-04 20:33:56
- He will be the longest tenured coach at ND without a NC. How - thethinman 2021-05-04 16:30:29
  - Is Kelly Grima Wormtongue? - graNDfan 2021-05-04 16:52:10
    - Yes. The next coaching search should target a real wizard. - Moff 2021-05-04 17:49:20
  - Confederacy of Dunces - NJDoubleDomer 2021-05-04 16:34:30
Layden .770, BK .730 (including vacated wins)... - Scoop80 2021-05-04 15:25:36
- Perhaps, but not sure who else would fit in there... - Irisharab 2021-05-04 17:28:32
  - I wouldn't change your order, but - SorinBasement 2021-05-05 08:23:21
  - I agree--BK is #7--big gap from #6, and big gap to #8 * - Scoop80 2021-05-04 21:33:25
- No UMass, but we did play WashU, Drake, and Pacific, though. * - StetsonDan 2021-05-04 17:16:15
- How soon we forget. We tied a 1 win GT team in '80. * - 84david 2021-05-04 15:52:17
  - I don't understand your point ... - CJC 2021-05-04 18:39:49
I struggle to accept that as "success." - MrE 2021-05-04 15:06:55
- As I said, he's Elmer Layden - El Kabong 2021-05-04 15:07:46
I think this is right. - mocopdx 2021-05-04 14:44:34
- That is completely false - ACross 2021-05-04 17:35:44
  - Comparison? - ND75 2021-05-06 14:50:36
  - and let's not overlook the fact - jt 2021-05-05 01:02:47
    - Freeman shows you do not need "recruiting continuity" - jbrown_9999 2021-05-05 09:46:58
      - and recruiting continuity would be a key thing to eliminate. * - MrE 2021-05-05 09:52:29