Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1494359
UNDER THE DOME BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM APRIL 2023 11 Gerad Parker's elevation to Notre Dame of- fensive coordinator has given him more power on filling support staff positions. He identified an old coworker for one of those spots. Caleb Carbine has joined the Irish's staff as a senior offensive analyst, his Twitter profile shows. Carbine worked with Parker at West Virginia from 2020-21, serving as a Mountaineers graduate assistant working with tight ends, fullbacks, of- fensive linemen and quarterbacks. Parker was West Virginia's offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach in both seasons. Carbine spent the 2022 season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at FCS program North Alabama. He came to West Virginia in 2019, following head coach Neal Brown from Troy. He was on Brown's Troy staff from 2016-18 as a graduate as- sistant. He worked with special teams his first season and with the offensive line his next two. Offensive line is Carbine's background. He played the position at North Alabama in 2010 and at Troy from 2011-14. He transferred as a walk-on, earned a scholarship and was the Trojans' starting center for two years. He's a native of Florence, Ala. The turnover this offseason among Notre Dame's offensive staff has extended beyond the departure of two key assistants for position coach jobs. Trevor Mendelson, an analyst from 2021-22, is now West- ern Michigan's offensive line coach. He joined for- mer Irish running backs coach Lance Taylor, who was named Western Michigan named head coach in December. Analyst Gus Ragland left in January to be East Tennessee State's quarterbacks coach but took the same job at Miami (Ohio) a few weeks later. Notre Dame also lost defensive graduate assistant James Laurinaitis, who left after one season to take the same job at Ohio State, his alma mater. He was teammates with Marcus Freeman from 2005-08, and the two started at linebacker for the Buckeyes. The Irish replaced him with Alabama analyst and former Michigan State linebacker Max Bullough. Notre Dame filled out its on-field staff with Virginia Tech offensive line coach Joe Rudolph in the same role. He replaced Harry Hiestand, who retired. Parker and QB coach Gino Guidugli replaced offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, who went to Alabama. On March 4, special teams coordinator Brian Mason left for the NFL's India- napolis Colts, and the Irish are expected to name Marty Biagi of Ole Miss to fill his spot. — Patrick Engel Former Notre Dame All-American Tom Schoen passed away Jan. 31. He was 77. Schoen was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1967 and a member of the Irish's 1966 national championship team. He started at safety each of his final two seasons, leading the team in interceptions both years. He was also the primary punt returner. Schoen had 7 interceptions during Notre Dame's 9-0-1 cam- paign in 1966 and started on a defense that allowed 38 points all season. The Irish gave up just 17 points in the final nine games, culminating with a 51-0 road shutout of No. 10 USC. He snagged 4 interceptions in 1967. Several Notre Dame records still belong to Schoen. He holds the single-game record for punt returns (9) and punt return yards (167), set during a game at Pittsburgh in 1967. His 42 punt returns in a single season (1967) are a program best. He is second in single-season punt return yards with 447 in 1967. His career punt return totals of 71 attempts for 700 yards rank fifth and sixth, respectively. He returned 2 punts for touchdowns. Schoen had 226 career interception return yards, which ranks third in team history. He is in a five-way tie for the most career interceptions returned for touchdowns (3). Notre Dame recruited Schoen as a quarterback out of St. Joseph High School in Cleveland. He did not play in 1964 (fresh- men were not allowed to participate then) and spent the 1965 season as a quarterback, totaling 81 rushing yards. He moved to defense for his last two years. The Cleveland Browns selected Schoen in the eighth round of the 1968 NFL Draft. He put football on hold, though, when another draft took priority: The U.S. Army's. Schoen served in South Korea and Fort Campbell, Ky. He returned to the football field in 1970 and played one season for the Browns. Schoen stayed around football long after his playing career ended. He returned to St. Joseph as an assistant coach in 1988 and was the team's head coach from 1995-2005. He became the school's athletics director in 1998 and held that role through 2006. He was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Outside of football, he owned a sporting goods store and a restaurant in the Cleveland area. Schoen is survived by his wife, Mary, and five children. — Patrick Engel Former Irish All-American Tom Schoen Passes Away NOTRE DAME HIRES ANALYST WITH TIES TO GERAD PARKER Schoen starred for the Irish as a safety and punt returner, and he was a member of the 1966 national championship team. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS