SI.com recently ranked the top college football hires this off-season:

Notre Dame (Brian Kelly, Cincinnati head coach): A
It seems like the most ideal match imaginable, with the school landing its first choice (for once). Kelly is Irish-Catholic, charismatic, a proven winner and practitioner of a brand of offense that's both exciting and simpler than Charlie Weis' NFL schemes. If Notre Dame fails to return to glory this time, Domers will have a hard time claiming the school hired the wrong guy.

Cincinnati (Butch Jones, Central Michigan head coach): A-
The formula worked once already. Cincinnati AD Mike Thomas replaced Kelly with the guy who replaced him at CMU three years earlier. Jones, 42, a longtime Kelly protégé who also worked under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, won two MAC titles in three years and has all the makings of a star. The only possible downside: He, too, will likely move upward if successful.

Kentucky (Joker Phillips, UK offensive coordinator): B+
Retired coach Rich Brooks named Phillips, 46, his successor two years ago, and the move proved prophetic. The Wildcats are enjoying a rare era of stability (four straight bowl trips), and Phillips' ascension assures continuity from the Brooks era. The Kentucky native has already helped elevate the program's talent level. Now he gets the chance to lead those players.

Louisville (Charlie Strong, Florida defensive coordinator): A+
Strong's call to the head coaching ranks was long overdue, and Louisville is a great fit. While the Cardinals had a great run of high-powered offenses under John L. Smith and Bobby Petrino, Strong, a renowned defensive whiz, could prove a great equalizer in the Big East, where there are so few top-level defenses. He should be able to recruit well and turn things around in a hurry.

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