Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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lowing year, and had an indelible impact through the final year of the Holtz era in 1996. named Greg Blache the first black assistant coach in the program's history. Blache was recruited by the Irish in 1968, but his playing career was trun- cated by an injury, thus beginning a coaching ap- prenticeship, and by 1973 he was named assistant coach for the junior var- sity program. A longtime fixture in THE PIONEER In 1973, Parseghian the NFL, Blache is now retired from the profes- sion after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins in 2008-09 under Jim Zorn. Notre Dame had three former assistants who co- ordinated defenses in the NFL: Blache, Carolina's Mike Trgovac (1992-94) and the late Jim Johnson (1977-83) of Philadelphia. Blache and Johnson THE PROS At one point in 2008, were both on Faust's staff from 1981-83 before leav- ing for the newly formed USFL. It demonstrated how even with talented assistants, if the overall direction is not there, you can produce a mediocre 18-15-1 record as the Irish did from 1981-83. Trgovac has been the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS The record for most na- defensive line coach at Green Bay the past few years — where he won a Super Bowl ring with quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, the Notre Dame QB from 1972-74 and Holtz's QB coach from 1992-95. SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Can you name the only Notre Dame assistant who was a head coach for a Super Bowl champion? The answer would be Hank Stram, who guided the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl IV title in 1970. Stram was the back- field coach for Brennan's last two teams in 1957-58. corded the most wins ever (so far) by a former Irish assistant in the collegiate ranks. He was 118-73-4 (.615) in 16 seasons at Wisconsin (1990-2005), was 8-3 in bowls, and won three Rose Bowls — one more than Bo Schem- bechler did in 21 seasons at Michigan. ✦ Urban Meyer (1996-2000) is closing in, having won two at Florida from 2005- 10 and posting a career record of 104-23 (.819) at his three previous coach- ing stops, including 7-1 in bowls. Alvarez (1987-89) re- nized, these are the assistants who helped make it possible: Bob Diaco — assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/line- Years from now when the 2012 season of rebirth will be recog- BRIAN KELLY'S 2012 STAFF backers ordinator Scott Booker — tight ends/special teams coordinator Kerry Cooks — co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks Mike Denbrock — outside wide receivers/passing game coor- Chuck Martin — offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Tony Alford — running backs/slot wide receivers/recruiting co- dinator Bob Elliott — safeties Mike Elston — defensive line Harry Hiestand — offensive line/running game coordinator tional titles by a former Irish assistant is Rockne with three (1924, 1929 and 1930). However, Ohio State's