YEAR IN REVIEW
helped the Irish field the top scoring
defense in the nation during the 2012
regular season, the main reason for the
program's berth in the national cham‑
pionship game.
Notre Dame hired Brian VanGorder,
who had coached with Brian Kelly at
Grand Valley State University in the
late 1980s and who brings SEC and
NFL experience to the program, to re‑
place Diaco. The Irish plucked quar‑
terbacks coach Matt LaFleur from the
Washington Redskins for the same po‑
sition in South Bend.
As for the head coach, the univer‑
sity announced a five‑year extension
for Kelly after the season‑opening
28‑6 win over Temple Aug. 31. The
contract — of which the terms were
undisclosed — helped quell rumors
that Kelly might flirt with the NFL this
offseason, as he had in January 2013.
TRIO OF PLAYERS RECEIVE
ACADEMIC SUSPENSIONS
In May 2013, Golson's suspension
After four years at Notre Dame under Brian Kelly, defensive coordinator Bob Diaco (left) and offensive
coordinator Chuck Martin (right) became head coaches at Connecticut and Miami (Ohio), respectively.
PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND
