Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/79478
Sweeping changes have been made to the Irish Fresh LOOK changes on both sides of the ball and a focus on restructuring an offense that has yet to fire on all cylinders since the Kelly regime began in 2010. All five offensive coaches are either N otre Dame head coach Brian Kelly officially introduced his new coaching staff Feb. 10, which included significant new to the program or to their respec- tive positions at Notre Dame. Chuck Martin made the switch from safe- ties coach to offensive coordinator, a decision Kelly said came down to sharing the same vision. Martin was promoted to head coach at Division II Grand Valley State in 2004 after serving under Kelly since 2000. Harry Hiestand, formerly from Tennessee, takes over as the offensive line coach, and Scott Booker was promoted from his role as an intern to the tight ends The coordinators Offensive coordinator — Chuck Martin Passing game coordinator — Mike Denbrock Running game coordinator — Harry Hiestand Defensive coordinator — Bob Diaco Co-defensive coordinator — Kerry Cooks Special teams coordinator — Scott Booker Recruiting coordinator — Tony Alford COACHING ASSIGNMENTS FOR 2012 Coaches by position group Quarterbacks — Chuck Martin Running backs and slot receivers — Tony Alford Outside receivers — Mike Denbrock Tight ends — Scott Booker Offensive line — Harry Hiestand Defensive line — Mike Elston Linebackers — Bob Diaco Safeties — Bob Elliott Cornerbacks — Kerry Cooks 20 APRIL 2012 coaching staff BY WES MORGAN Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand was hired to replace Ed Warinner, who joined new Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer's staff. coach. Former tight ends coach Mike Denbrock will slide outside to work with the X and W wide receivers, which bumps former receivers coach Tony Alford into a new hybrid role dealing with running backs and the slot receiver (Z) position. Former offensive coordinator PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND Charley Molnar took the head coach- ing position at Massachusetts prior to Notre Dame's Champs Sports Bowl matchup with Florida State in December. Offensive line coach Ed Warinner and running backs coach Tim Hinton both left for the same po- sitions at Ohio State in early January. "From an offensive standpoint, we did not reach the goals that I was looking for," Kelly said. "Anytime you step back you have to evaluate all facets of your program. We think these are significant changes that will improve our football program, and I believe they already have immedi- ately in terms of relationships, com- munication and vision we have on the offensive side of the ball. "I was really looking for, as it re- lates to Chuck, somebody that could communicate the message clearly across the board without any incon- sistencies from group to group." Booker and Alford also assumed coordinator roles, with Booker now taking over for Mike Elston oversee- ing special teams, and Alford assum- ing Martin's previous responsibility of heading up the recruiting effort. A Notre Dame defense that fin- ished the 2011 season ranked 24th The new staff shifted certain parts of the recruiting map as well. Here's the new lineup. Scott Booker — Georgia, North Florida, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., area Bob Elliott — Throughout the Midwest and San Diego Kerry Cooks — Texas, Lousiana and New Mexico Harry Hiestand — Northern Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia Mike Elston — Central and Southern Ohio, among other places Bob Diaco — East Coast, especially New Jersey Tony Alford— Central/South Florida, Alabama and Colorado Chuck Martin — Chicago, Michigan and other parts of the Midwest Mike Denbrock — West Coast and Hawaii RECRUITING TERRITORIES BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED