Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/476884
BY LOU SOMOGYI T he only constant when it comes to assistant coaches in college football is change. Notre Dame experienced it perhaps more than anticiapted this February, and it led to the hiring of four new assistants and some staff re- shuffling in both position groups and job descriptions. Only time will tell whether these changes will be for the better or worse. It is interesting to note that the last time Irish head coach Brian Kelly had such a shake-up — losing three as- sistants after the 2011 campaign and having a reorganization in some job titles — the Fighting Irish responded with a 12-1 season that ended with a loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. With any new staff additions or re- alignments, there is a natural honey- moon phase in which optimisim and energy abounds. It is bound to occur in another three or four years, if not sooner. Until then, here is a look at some assistant coaching history at Notre Dame. THE ORIGINAL The first Notre Dame coach to have the assistant title was line coach How- ard "Cap" Edwards in 1913 under first-year boss Jesse Harper. Edwards coached only one year, so then 1914 Notre Dame graduate/wide receiver Knute Rockne was named "first assistant" by Harper from 1914- 17. There is no record of a "second assistant" after him. SUCCESSION PLAN Rockne is one of four Notre Dame assistant coaches who were promoted to the Irish head coach position. The Rock did well for himself, but he didn't have to chase ghosts as did the others: • Hunk Anderson (1931-33) — Named "senior coach" after Rockne's tragic death on March 31, 1931, he and "junior coach" Jack Chevigny weren't on the same page during their one sea- son together in 1931, and Anderson was fired after a 3-5-1 finish in 1933. HELPING HANDS, AND MORE A look at assistant coaches in Notre Dame's history