Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/462058
THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI T he sudden exodus of three Notre Dame assistant coaches during the first week of February — Kerry Cooks (defensive backs), Matt LaFleur (quarterbacks) and Tony Alford (re- cruiting coordinator/running backs) — evoked numerous theories on why they departed. Was there an internal fallout from the four-game losing streak in Novem- ber? Do staff members sense that head coach Brian Kelly has one foot out the door while sniffing around for another job, especially in the NFL? Did discontent with myriad factors, including dealing with the academic issues of five players last year, prompt eagerness to explore other horizons? Had some of the assistants reached their ceiling here and were in need of a change of scenery so as not to atrophy? Each theory might have some trac- tion, some much more than others. In the case of LaFleur, who was "one and done" after coaching with the Washington Redskins from 2010- 13, he will have a family reunion with brother Mike in the Atlanta Falcons' NFL organization. That is understand- able. Once the NFL lifestyle is in you, the gravitational pull to return there might remain. Plus, Kelly will always have a major hand with coaching the quarterbacks, or at least the starter (whoever that will be this season). With Cooks and Alford, it was dif- ferent. While perception-wise their moves might have seemed lateral — with Cooks landing at Oklahoma and Alford at Ohio State — that would not quite be an accurate assessment. Both had seemingly reached a plateau with the Fighting Irish. Consequently, for a better chance to move up, they likely had to move elsewhere, and Norman and Columbus have to be considered a college football form of a golden para- chute. Cooks held the co-defensive coordi- nator title in 2013 after four years, but when defensive coordinator Bob Diaco Coaching Exits Evoke Wide Range Of Emotions After six seasons at Notre Dame, recruiting coordi- nator/running backs coach Tony Alford was ready for a change and moved to Ohio State. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND