In yet another close contest, the Fighting Irish find themselves on the losing end at home after a 38-35 result against Duke. In the wake of Saturday’s contest, Notre Dame has fired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.
Brian Kelly told media Sunday that he had no answers immediately following Saturday’s loss, but that he had finally come to a conclusion in the 24 hours after.
“Well, I mean, when you guys ask me those questions, certainly that’s not the time or the place to get into debates about your coaching staff. I make those decisions,” the seventh year coach said. “Clearly when I have the opportunity to evaluate it and had time last night to evaluate our current situation, and you know, made what I felt to be the best decision for the program.”
In place of VanGorder, Kelly announced that defensive analyst Greg Hudson will assume those responsibilities. Hudson is a 25-year veteran who served as a defensive coordinator for Purdue, East Carolina and Minnesota. He joined the Irish staff in June.
Hudson’s role is more of an interim one for now, but he has the chance to become the permanent defensive coordinator.
“As I told Greg, you know, everybody’s interviewing. Everybody on our staff for the rest of the staff is on a very public interview,” Kelly said. “So everybody’s got a chance to continue in their roles, and we’ll all have that very public interview as we play each and every week.”
Kelly clarified that it’s not just defensive coaches that are under review, but the entire coaching staff, himself included.
“I mean, we’re all in this together: All the players, coaches, everybody. So players’ jobs are on the line. Every job is being evaluated as the players; all coaches’ jobs are on the line as well.”
Kelly reiterated the VanGorder is one of the best defensive coaches in the college football world.
“He knows the game. He loves Notre Dame. He wanted to succeed as much as anybody here, but it wasn’t working. You know, again, there’s not enough time to go into all of the details of it, but the fact remains that at the end of the day, I’ve got to find a way to get our defense to play at a higher level, and they certainly weren’t,” Kelly said.
Despite having what many would claim to be a championship caliber offense, led currently be DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame sits a 1-3 on the season, with a 1-2 record at home.
Saturday, Kizer led the Irish with a 22-37-1 mark for 381 yards and two touchdowns. He had 60 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Notre Dame entered the game against Duke as the sole FBS program without a single sack, though, the Irish recorded their first sack against the Blue Devils.
Notre Dame hits the road Saturday to take on Syracuse at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. for a noon kickoff.
