Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2017 75 coordinator, handing the 34-year-old play-calling duties. "Chip just kept coming up on the list," Kelly said. "Then I spent some time with him and it was pretty clear that I had found my guy as our next offensive coordinator. So I'm very ex- cited to have Chip as our offensive coordinator." Former Wake Forest assistant Mike Elko will run the defense, a hire Kelly hopes will generate some pressure and re-energize a porous unit. "I was looking for someone that would take the football away; some- body that has had great success in doing so," Kelly said, "as well as con- tinued success as a coordinator, and Mike Elko's name just kept coming up at the top of the list." Notre Dame finished 44th in the nation in yards allowed per game (378.8) and 62nd in points allowed per game (27.8). Kelly fired defen- sive coordinator Brian VanGorder after four games and promoted ana- lyst Greg Hudson to fill the position. Kelly said Notre Dame is still in the process of finding a role for Hudson, but they are running out of slots. Assisting in the defensive turn- around will be new linebackers coach Clark Lea, who worked with Elko at Wake Forest in 2016. Elko will coach the safeties, Mike Elston will work with the defensive line — replacing Keith Gilmore — and Todd Lyght re- mains with the defensive backs. On the offensive side, Notre Dame has also added DelVaughn Alexander as wide receivers coach and former Notre Dame quarterback Tom Rees as quarterbacks coach. Autry Denson (running backs) and Harry Hiestand (offensive line) are also back in 2017. Rees is currently in a graduate as- sistant role until the NCAA passes legislation allowing a 10th assistant coach. "He will have the room," Kelly said of Rees and the quarterbacks. "He will coach those quarterbacks on a day-to-day basis, and I have great confidence in his ability to do so. Not many guys have walked out on that field with the score tied and with the game on the line and with the pres- sure on, and have turned it around to victories for Notre Dame." Former Nevada head coach Brian Polian was brought in to upgrade the special teams. Polian was an assis- tant under former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis from 2005-09. "We were able to hit a home run here with Brian Polian," Kelly said. "He'll be charged with developing our entire special teams, and we think that we're going to be able to pro- vide an incredible opportunity for all those that are going to be playing under his guidance." It all comes back to Kelly, though. "Change always starts with the top," Kelly said. "Last year, certainly we didn't live up to those expecta- tions and that falls on me first and foremost. And we needed to make some significant changes. Significant not just in terms of personnel but on how we do things on a day-to-day basis, and it starts with me." ✦ Offseason Notes Some various news and notes from Notre Dame's offseason: • Spring practice for the Irish kicks off March 8. The team will conclude its 15 spring sessions with the annual Blue-Gold Game April 22. Despite some speculation, head coach Brian Kelly noted Notre Dame has decided not to go to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for spring practice. • Offensive lineman Hunter Bivin will return for his fifth season of eligibility, according to Kelly. He's expected to be a depth player for what projects as a strength of the team. • Kelly confirmed that offensive lineman Colin McGovern is transferring. It has been reported that McGovern will use his fifth year at the University of Virginia. • Tight end Jacob Matuska, who played just 10 offensive snaps in 2016, will graduate this spring and won't return to the team for his final season of eligibility. • Junior kicker Justin Yoon suffered a foot injury this past season, which limited his effectiveness. Yoon won't need surgery, only rest, Kelly said. • Jeff Quinn will return to the team as a "senior analyst," per Kelly. Jeff Burris will again be a defensive analyst. Pryce Tracy will be the special teams analyst. • Notre Dame's strength and conditioning team will consist of five people, Kelly said. Assisting Matt Balis will be former IMG strength coach Dave Ballou. Jake Flint and David Grimes remain on staff, and the Irish have one hire still to make in that department. • New defensive coordinator Mike Elko said his preference is to coach from the press box on game days, rather than be on the sideline. He worked from the booth at Wake Forest, but said he is comfortable doing either. • Sophomore Devin Studstill started at free safety last year as a freshman, but defensive backs coach Todd Lyght said there is consideration among the staff to move Studstill to strong safety. Classmate Jalen Elliott might be moving from strong safety (field side) — where he played 117 snaps as a freshman — to free safety (boundary side). Junior cornerbacks Ashton White and Nick Coleman also could move to safety. • Junior Nicco Fertitta will most likely remain at free safety, Lyght said. • Special teams coordinator Brian Polian said senior punter Tyler Newsome has expressed a desire to do kickoffs and the Irish will allow him to try that. Polian, though, would like Newsome to focus on punting and "become the elite punter that he can become." — Matt Jones Sophomore Devin Studstill started at free safety last year as a freshman, but could make the move to strong safety in 2017. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA