Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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overall in scoring defense (20.7 points per game) and No. 30 in total defense (344.2 yards per contest) will have plenty of continuity in 2012. "Of course, there's a new energy; A Hawkeye Connection there's a new excitement; there's a new pep in everyone's step, players included," said defensive coordina- tor Bob Diaco, who added the title of assistant head coach. Bob Elliott, whose most recent stint was at Iowa State, was hired to take over Martin's role with the safeties. The rest of the supporting cast has a familiar look. Kerry Cooks remains in charge of cornerbacks, while adding co-defen- sive coordinator duties, and Elston will continue to instruct the defen- sive line. Notre Dame's defense allowed fewer than 21 points per game each of the last two seasons, the first time an Irish defense had accomplished that feat in consecutive seasons in 10 years. "We did reach many of our goals," proud of that fact. Elliott, a 33-year coaching veteran, came to South Bend via Iowa State, where he served the Cyclones in Based on job titles, Bob Elliott now works for his former pupils. Notre Dame's new safeties coach is the same capacity. But it was his time at Iowa from 1987-99, spent at a variety of positions, that played a major role in his hiring at Notre Dame. "The first time that I met Coach Elliott was 1990, and we've had a relationship since then," said Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, a two-time All-Big Ten linebacker for the Hawkeyes from 1991-95. "You're talking about 22 years of friendship and respect and loyalty and trust. He's family; he's blood." Under legendary Iowa head coach Hayden Fry, Elliott was the program's secondary coach from 1987-94. He then accepted a post as the school's alumni association director in 1995 before re- joining the program as defensive coordinator in 1996. Elliott, the son of former Iowa athlet- ics director Bump Elliott, graduated from Iowa in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in history. He earned three letters on the Hawkeye football team as a defensive back in 1972 and 1974-75. Kerry Cooks, who was recently promoted to co-defensive coordinator in charge of cornerbacks, was a defensive back for the Hawkeyes from 1993-97. Cooks and Diaco both are higher on the chain of command than one of their greatest mentors. "I'm kind of excited about it," Elliott said. "First of all, it's really fun for me to see how Bobby and Kerry have developed. I've been away from them for many years. They've grown and gone in all kinds of direc- tions and become great coaches in their own right. It's really fun for me to see how that happens. That's the best part about coaching, to keep those relationships and watch how those guys develop and grow into men and husbands and great people. It's really fun to get a chance to do that on a daily basis. "I spend a lot of time in communication with former players. That's a part of every day for me. I love those guys — all the guys that have played for me over the years. These are two great examples of that." Diaco got his start in the coaching profession as a graduate student under Elliott from 1996-97. "He had a huge impact on coaching style as a young coach and how to conduct your business on a day- Kelly said. "We still have a ways to go as all units do. I don't think any- body's ever arrived. But we were pleased with a lot of things and the progress that Coach Diaco has led on the defensive side of the ball. Im- mediately, if we wanted to compete nationally at the highest level, we had to improve on the defensive side of the ball, and we have made that improvement. "We hadn't made the kind of im- to-day basis," Diaco said. "We have a number of coaches that have either played or coached for Coach Fry that are on this staff," Kelly explained. "Some of it is coincidental, others are based upon relationships that have been built over time. This influx started with Coach [Paul] Longo as my strength coach and has continued down the road. When you go in one direction with a potential hire, and it works out very well for you, it starts to expand that network into those people that know each other. I couldn't be more pleased and proud to have the coaches and players that have been with Coach Fry on the staff here at Notre Dame." Diaco and Eliott explained that the sheer volume of coaches nationwide with Iowa ties is no coincidence. "There's an abnormal number of former Iowa players in the coaching profession," Elliott said. "People provement I wanted on offense, that's why you've seen significant changes on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, we're able to keep great continuity there." Kelly explained that Diaco is ex- pected to represent the program, mostly at offseason appearances and speaking engagements, when Kelly is unable to do so. In early March, Notre Dame an- ask me why, and I always say because Hayden Fry always made it so much fun and the atmosphere was positive. I think our players saw that coaching is something they would want to do. I think there are a lot of Iowa guys out there in the coaching profession because of Hayden Fry and the atmosphere that he provided for us." "We had such a fantastic experience there because of Coach Fry, because of how he treats people and how he cares for people and his coaching methodology," Diaco added. — Wes Morgan nounced it had hired Ernest Jones, who had actually been on campus for several weeks, as the director of player development and engagement — a new position created for the for- mer Buffalo associate head coach. Jones was a member of the Cincinnati coaching crew under Kelly. When Kelly left for Notre Dame, Jones fol- lowed Bearcats offensive coordina- tor Jeff Quinn to Buffalo, where he became the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator along with coaching the cornerbacks. ✦ www.BLUEANDGOLD.com Safeties coach Bob Elliot, shown here at Iowa State, has a long-standing relationship with current Irish defensive coaches Bob Diaco and Kerry Cooks. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS APRIL 2012 21