There was an extraordinary amount of chatter across the message boards and social media during the second half of the season- as well as a large portion of the time leading up to the bowl game, that Brian Kelly should be fired as the head coach of the Notre Dame football team. Once it proved obvious that Jack Swarbrick would not pull the trigger, and Notre Dame won a game against an SEC opponent that almost everyone thought would trample the physically and emotionally depleted Irish, most of ND Nation tuned its eyes to the offseason tweaks that were bound to happen.
While many believed this was primarily going to be the changes withing the roster (and specifically with the quarterback position) there were also a great many others that thought the changes would be that of a philosophical nature. What we are actually seeing right now, is more changes within the coaching staff than most anyone thought would happen (and some straight out of nowhere that went nowhere).
It started innocently enough with the departure of Kerry Cooks to Oklahoma and the swapping of Kyle McCarthy as a defensive G.A. to Maurice Crum. The debating began about which coaches may be targeted as the next hire, and a few “short lists” started circulating. As it turned out, Brian Kelly turned to a Son of Notre Dame in Todd Lyght, to coach defensive backs.
DB Coach at Notre Dame. Very happy for Todd Lyght. With Pat Terrell, Stanley Smagala Chris Zorich, Tony Rice. pic.twitter.com/mBaKNiR0cv
— Tony Rice (@TRiceQB9) February 8, 2015
This move, of course, was to the delight of most of the Irish faithful as most anything that has to do with Lou Holtz and Notre Dame, gets a serious look and a nod of approval from the alumni and subway alumni.
Another move that made headlines, but took a while to confirm exactly, was that of Matt LaFleur leaving his job as quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame for a position in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.
Report: Falcons add Jeff Ulbrich, Matt LaFleur join Falcons coaching staff http://t.co/DO4CBNU9AS
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 5, 2015
This, obviously, seems of little concern as we all know the real quarterback coach at Notre Dame is the head coach himself, Brian Kelly. What it does do, is that it gives Kelly more options as to whom he may hire to fill that vacancy. Does he hire another offensive guy to be the acting QB coach,or does he use this spot to help fill another need with special teams? The most obvious hire for Notre Dame since October is likely to happen- although the exact role is still up for interpretation.
Sources indicate Notre Dame is moving to hire Jeff Quinn in the role of QB coach http://t.co/ys1lVojNj7pic.twitter.com/oQWYOGTer9
— Scout Recruiting (@scoutrecruiting) February 7, 2015
Despite all of that, the biggest news was the move of Tony Alford to Ohio State.
Tony Alford takes "leap of faith" to OSU. Read the full interview on his emotional departure. http://t.co/pSf8LBc3qx pic.twitter.com/AeA46ff1Oh
— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) February 7, 2015
This was the bombshell that wasn’t needed, but one that should have been expected- at least in nature. Tony Alford was Notre Dame’s best recruiter and he is one of the best in the country. The empty pair of shoes that he leaves behind will not be easily filled, and Brian Kelly may be leaning in the direction of one who is, by all accounts, very much like Alford. He is also very much like another recent hire, in that they are both former Holtz players.
Quinn Likely, Denson Possible To Land At Notre Dame http://t.co/1hSt4XzV3i via @247Sports
— Evan Sharpley (@EvanSharpley) February 7, 2015
Autry Denson has emerged as a real candidate to replace Tony Alford as the running backs coach. Denson is currently the RB coach at South Florida since his hiring less than a month ago. He held the same position at Miami (OH) until the Bulls came calling. Would Denson leave USF should BK come calling? Of course he would, and he has received a strong endorsement from the man he would be replacing in Tony Alford.
While NOTHING has been made official by Notre Dame, and probably won’t be for a few weeks, the possibility of Brian Kelly hiring Todd Lyght, Jeff Quinn, and Autry Denson raises as many eyebrows in wonder as it does in delight. None of the three are proven recruiters and will be asked to fill the void of the two best recruiters that the Irish had on the staff in Cooks and Alford.
What it would offer is someone (Quinn) who has been Kelly’s right hand for over two decades being reattached to his arm, and names that are more than familiar to fans (Lyght & Denson) to add some excitement. Denson and Lyght could possibly evolve into a really good recruiters for the Irish given the fact that they both played and became stars at Notre Dame.
What we really have here is a strong mixture of excitement and anxiety. Despite any of the possible hires, what will the staff be doing come spring? Will there be some movement as to who is coaching what? Will the Quinn hire be an off the field position and will another name emerge for a job at ND? Will it really be Denson? Is this a conscious effort from Brian Kelly as he enters his 6th year at ND (the longest since Holtz) to use nostalgia to help bring back a tradition of winning?
All we are left with, are these type of questions until the answer suddenly appears in a press release. With these questions, we are trying to see the final state of this overhaul project at Notre Dame- one that we didn’t see coming, but is happening none the less.
