Is The University Of Notre Dame Changing Football Coaches

Notre Matriarch Players' Input an Of import Key in Marcus Freeman's Landing Head-Coaching Role

In a span of well-nigh 10 days, the Notre Dame football program has gone through transformative change.

Omnibus Brian Kelly left for LSU just a week afterward saying he wouldn't exit the Fighting Irish. Then, on Monday, Marcus Freeman was officially named head passenger vehicle after serving equally defensive coordinator under Kelly for the past 11 months.

The Irish (11–1), who finished fifth to just miss out on this year's four-squad College Football game Playoff, will instead play No. nine Oklahoma Land (11–ii) in the Fiesta Basin on January. ane.

We take a wait back at the past tumultuous few weeks at Notre Matriarch:

Marcus Freeman — Freeman, 35, was named Notre Dame's 30th head football coach Monday.

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Kelly's exit was 'classless':Sports figures offered their opinions on the coach'southward stunning departure, including former Notre Matriarch quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Brady Quinn. "This was about money. This was nearly ego. ... You don't leave in a classless mode like that, after becoming the all-time winningest bus, unless there's more than to information technology and y'all want to try to spurn, or try and do this in a conniving way."

Kelly shares the reasons why he left for LSU: "It really didn't have anything to do with what Notre Dame couldn't give me as much equally another opportunity, some other challenge downward in the SEC to play in arguably the all-time conference in the state. And the resources hither are incredible."

Kelly was asked whether he would target committed Irish recruits: During his introductory press conference to LSU, Brian Kelly was directly asked whether he would target Notre Dame'due south committed players. "My focus will be on those who have made a determination to come to LSU. We'll be reaching out to those young men outset and foremost."

Less than a week later on Kelly'due south deviation, Irish proper name their human being:Freeman, 35, joined the Notre Dame staff before the 2021 season after spending the previous iv years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Cincinnati. Earlier that, he was the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Purdue. Freeman played four seasons as a linebacker for Ohio Land and was a fifth-circular draft pick in '09 past the Bears, though he never appeared in a game and joined the Buckeyes as a graduate banana in '10.

Freeman was the players' choice: Sources familiar with the quick search told Sports Illustrated'southward Pat Forde that Notre Matriarch had 8 electric current head coaches on its initial list to fill its open position. Two declined to participate, one had timing issues and two others were eliminated by the schoolhouse. The listing was speedily whittled to three head coaches and Freeman. The player input was significant in pushing Freeman to the forefront.

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