ND assistants through the years
I recently looked at the list of assistant football coaches recognized by the University of Notre Dame to have served at Our Lady's school, and came to a startling realization. Of the 187 assistant coaches listed by Notre Dame, more than half of them have served since 1980.
How is that possible? Well, coaching staffs from the days gone by did not have nine assistant coaches by NCAA rule like they do today. Assistant coaches such as Edward "Moose" Krause, who went on to become Notre Dame's long-time athletic director, would coach both the offensive and defensive lines. There wasn't a quarterbacks coach and a running backs coach, just a backfield coach.
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When Lou Holtz came to Notre Dame, he averaged an incredible three coaching changes per his 11 seasons, whether it was because a coach left for a better job opportunity or Holtz simply felt like he needed to upgrade a spot.
I was surprised to count 97 assistant coaches who have worked at Notre Dame since I first began covering Irish football as a student in 1980. I didn't interview a handful of them. But since 1982, I've had the pleasure of "working with" every assistant football coach at Notre Dame.
The following is a brief recap of those coaches with some stories of my own personal experiences/relationships with them. For the sake of brevity, some coaches' names are just listed.
Steve Addazio (TE/OL/ST, 1999-2001) - Enthusiastic, energetic assistant coach who benefited greatly from the Urban Meyer relationship. Didn't think he'd be a head coach in FBS, but his opportunity arose when Al Golden left Temple for the Miami job.
Tony Alford (RB/WR, 2009-present) - A tough, no-nonsense coach, but also one of the most enjoyable to interview. A great catch by Charlie Weis, and a great decision by Brian Kelly to maintain him from the previous staff. If Alford is involved with a recruit, the Irish always have a chance.
Barry Alvarez (Asst. HC/DC/LB, 1987-89) - Can't say I anticipated that he'd win 118 games, three Big Ten titles, three Rose Bowls finish with an 8-3 record in bowl games, and land in the College Football Hall of Fame, let alone go on to become Wisconsin's athletic director. But he was one of the most well respected coordinators in Notre Dame history, and his 1988-89 defenses were two of the best.
Keith Armstrong (DE/ST, 1993), Tom Backhus (OL, 1981)
Kent Baer (DC, 2002-04) - One of the more underappreciated coordinators at Notre Dame since it was his defense that allowed the Irish to win 10 times in Tyrone Willingham's first year with the Irish (2002). That unit allowed just 16.7 points per game in '02, ranking ninth in the country. A lack of Irish offense during his tenure skews the job he did under the circumstances. Also makes the all-time good guy list (of which there are many).
Tom Beck (RB, 1991) - One of the original mentors to Brian Kelly at Grand Valley State. He had a 137-52-1 career head coaching record, including a 50-18 mark at Grand Valley. His time with Lou Holtz, however, was short-lived, and Beck moved on to coordinate the offense at Illinois.
Greg Blache (JV/RB/DL, 1973-75, 1981-83), Dave Borbely (OL, 1998-2001)
Brian Boulac (Asst. HC/OL/RC/DL, 1970-82) - A Notre Dame man through and through. One of the truly great foot soldiers in Irish history. While Joe Yonto gets credit for developing a host of stars along the defensive line (see below), Boulac's work along the offensive line was underrated. Among those who played for Boulac and excelled were John Dampeer, Larry DiNardo, Gerry DiNardo, Frank Pomarico, Steve Sylvester, Ernie Hughes, Dave Huffman, Tim Foley, John Scully and Tom Thayer. A member of the Notre Dame athletic administration administrative for the better part of three decades.
Corwin Brown (Assoc. HC/DC/DB, 2007-09) - Ranks right up there with Buzz Preston (see below) for all-time great rants following Notre Dame's 2009 loss to Navy. Brown took exception to Ken Niumatalolo's post-game comments, and Brown went off with the media a few days later. A really good guy who was in a bit over his head as coordinator of the Irish.
Dick Bumpas (DL, 1990-91) - When people talk about the great TCU defenses under Bumpas, it makes those of us who were around during his two years at Notre Dame scratch our heads. First of all, he wasn't a coordinator at Notre Dame. Secondly, he was about as mild-mannered as it gets. Third, the Irish defense allowed 204.8 yards rushing per game in Bumpas' last year as defensive line coach. The fact that he helped institute the framework for one of college football's most destructive defenses at TCU (along with, of course, Gary Patterson) doesn't seem to jibe with the guy we knew 20 years ago.
Vinny Cerrato (RC, 1986-90) - An all-time classic. Rough around the edges when it came to dealing with the media, this guy was a beast on the college football recruiting trail. His gathering of talent in the 1990 recruiting class ranks among the best in Notre Dame history. Spent nine seasons as the 49ers Director of College Scouting and another decade with the Redskins as Vice President of Football Operations.
Bob Chmiel (RC/TE, 1994-97) - Smart, thorough and a product of the Bo Schembechler/Lou Holtz regimes, he represented Notre Dame with style. Known more now for his post-coaching work analyzing college football, which is always informative. Never met an opinion he didn't want to express. I owe a considerable amount to him when it comes to learning how to evaluate film.
Andy Christoff (DC, 1984-85)
Tom Clements (Asst. HC/QB/WR, 1992-95) - This was my childhood idol (before Joe Montana), so when I finally had a chance to interview him, I felt like I had been granted an audience. Reserved by nature, he always carried himself with grace on and off the field. He helped develop quarterbacks Rick Mirer, Kevin McDougal and Ron Powlus, all of which put up big numbers by Notre Dame standards at the time. Spent time with five NFL teams since leaving Notre Dame, including offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills in 2004-05.
Jim Colletto (OC/OL/TE, 1997-98) - A man's man kind of a football coach. Always seemed to me to be more of an offensive line coach than a head coach/offensive coordinator, and his track record in those two areas validates the claim. But he forged a long career in the game, in including a stint as head coach at Purdue. Landed on his feet in the NFL after his Notre Dame experience. Spent seven seasons with the Baltimore Ravens as offensive line coach after leaving Notre Dame.
Kerry Cooks (2010-present) - Quickly developing a top-notch recruiting reputation with the Irish.
Ron Cooper (Asst. HC/DB, 1991-92) - One of the great recruiters in the Lou Holtz era. I was always surprised that he didn't make it as a successful head coach. Had a 45-55 record in three stops as a college head coach, including Louisville. I would consider him to be one of the finest teachers to coach at Notre Dame in the last 30 years. Currently on the LSU staff, where he helped develop Patrick Patterson, the No. 5 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals.
Pete Cordelli (WR/QB, 1986-90) - One of the nicest, most cordial coaches I've covered at Notre Dame. A true Lou Holtz disciple who was a good foot soldier. Reminded me of Tom Pagna when it came to talking about his craft. His face lit up when he described offensive football. Coached a guy named Tim Brown at Notre Dame, and as well as Ricky Watters and Raghib "Rocket" Ismail. Coaching career fizzled after 3-30 mark at Kent State.
Gary Darnell (DC, 1990-91) - I was surprised that his defenses weren't better than they were with the Irish after coming over from Florida. Hands were tied a bit as the young talent on defense at the time were mainly younger guys. Rick Minter was brought in and he reaped the benefits of a loaded unit.
Bob Davie (DC/ILB, 1994-96) - He was a friend as a defensive coordinator before he took over as head coach. I can remember telling him that our relationship would change after he became a head coach. He didn't understand why…until I started evaluating his job in print. Still, I would consider Davie to be one of the great guys I've covered at Notre Dame. As I often tell people who cringe when his name is mentioned, if you knew him personally, your opinion of him would be different. Many who claim to know him well disagree. Such is the life of a coach.
Mike Denbrock (OL/TE, 2002-04, 2010-present) - A two-time coach with the Irish who has earned plaudits for his West Coast recruiting.
Bob Diaco (DC/ILB, 2010-present) - One of the favorite interviews among the media corps because you never quite know from what angle he'll evaluate the situation and from which book he'll quote. Always a fascinating interview. Oh, yeah, and his defense was stifling over the final month of the 2010 season.
Bill Diedrick (OC/QB, 2002-04) - He began to lose it at the end of the 2004 season when the walls of the Tyrone Willingham regime began crumbling. He felt like the media was out to get him. It had more to do with his 108th, 90th and 81st-ranked offenses.
Kirk Doll (Asst. HC/LB/ST, 1994-2001) - Great deal of respect for the man and the coach. A top-notch human being who knew and played his role with a high degree of professionalism and a sense of style. Bob Davie's most trusted assistant is in his first season at San Jose State.
Mike Elston (DL/STC, 2010-present) - High marks in terms of the improvement of his defensive line, the solid if unspectacular specials teams play, and his dogged approach on the recruiting trail.
Foge Fazio (DC, 1986-87) - Can't help but smile when I think of ol' Foge. He loved being on the football field and enjoyed life. He called one too many blitzes, however, and Holtz had Barry Alvarez on the phone.
Terry Forbes (DB, 1986-87)
Jim Gruden (OB/ST, 1978-80) - I never interviewed Jon Gruden's father, but he was highly respected within the football office.
Bishop Harris (DE/LB, 1984-85) - Let's just say that of all the assistant coaches I've dealt with, relating to Bishop Harris was the most difficult and one of the least pleasant experiences. He was suspicious of every question asked him, including the one about the LSU ticket scandal that followed him to Notre Dame.
Randy Hart (DL, 2009) - A truly quality human being. Too short of time with this class act. Never a shortage of energy. His non-stop stream of instruction/encouragement on the practice field was a must for every reporter to hear.
Jay Hayes (DE/OLB, 1989-91)
Mike Haywood (OC/RB, 2005-08) - By the time he left Notre Dame, the whole experience of returning to his alma mater had turned sour with 15 losses in his last two seasons combined. But he landed on his feet at Miami of Ohio and turned around a struggling program. Went from 1-11 to 9-4 before snagging the Pittsburgh job, which unfortunately was short-lived. I also remember him as the soft-spoken receiver/defensive back who returned to Houston briefly due to homesickness.
Chuck Heater (DB, 1988-90) - The former Michigan running back was a good fit at Notre Dame at a time when the Irish were winning 31 games in a three-year span. Notable players under his direction were cornerbacks Todd Lyght and Stan Smagala, and safeties George Streeter and Pat Terrell. Left Notre Dame to become defensive coordinator at Colorado State, and eventually landed in Gainesville where he served for six seasons, including the last as co-defensive coordinator under Urban Meyer. Now the defensive coordinator at Temple. Good guy, excellent coach.
Jim Higgins (OL, 1981-85) - The late Coach Higgins was known as one of the truly genuine Christian men on Gerry Faust's coaching staff. On the field, he was as hard-nosed as they get. Coached guards Larry Williams and Tim Scannell, among others.
Tim Hinton (RB, 2010-present) - If I were a college running back coming out of high school, I would want to play for this guy. Upbeat and positive, he'll also give the running backs the information he needs in order to succeed. He is a team-first guy all the way.
Skip Holtz (OC/WR, 1991-93) - The head coach's son used to run a little interference when the media wasn't as kind to the program as they (translation: Lou Holtz) thought it should be. I was on the receiving end of a couple of those, but always respected Louis Leo "Skip" Holtz, Jr., who has more than carved his own niche. Took Connecticut to the brink of Division 1-A play and averaged just shy of eight victories per season at East Carolina. He'll do the same at South Florida.
Ron Hudson (OC, QB/WR, 1982-85) - I learned a lot about offensive football from this man as I was beginning my career covering the Irish. Compensated greatly for what Gerry Faust didn't know about offensive football.
Rob Ianello (Asst. HC/RC/WR, 2005-09) - A great recruiter, although people often questioned his progress with the wideouts. Have to admit that we were surprised when he landed the Akron job, and it still looks bleak for the Zips after a 1-11 season in 2010. An easy guy to pull for.
Jim Johnson (Asst. HC/DC/DB, 1977-83) - Some Irish fans aren't aware that the long-time Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator was a key man during Dan Devine's success at Notre Dame before escaping midway through the Faust era.
George Kelly (LB, 1969-85) - One of the mainstays of the Ara Parseghian staff who stayed through the Devine and Faust eras before entering administration at Notre Dame. Had a great relationship/friendship with the late Coach Kelly, who was always there to lend a fledgling journalist a helping hand.
Edward "Moose" Krause (OL/DL, 1942-43, 1946-47) - No, I wasn't covering Notre Dame football when Moose was coaching. But I did know him well during the final years of his life, and I always appreciated how he made me feel like a part of the Notre Dame football family. A true gentleman and great representative of Our Lady's university.
Rick Lantz (DL, 1984-85) - Most Irish fans don't remember this guy, but he was a classic. Brought out the best in defensive linemen such as Wally Kleine, Eric Dorsey and Mike Gann. Good man, good sense of humor. Served as interim head coach at Navy in 2000 and spent six years coaching in NFL Europe.
John Latina (Asst. HC/OL, 2005-08) - A hard-nosed, no-nonsense coach who was dealt a tough hand in '07 with an inexperienced unit. The Irish never did run the football very well during his tenure, bottoming out at 115th in the country on the ground in '07, which led to the naming of Frank Verducci as offensive line coach in '09.
Bill Lewis (Asst. HC/DB, 2005-07) - Quality guy and quality defensive backs coach. Wish Notre Dame would have had him in his prime because over the long haul, he would have been a difference maker in the program. Highly-respected defensive backs coach of the Miami Dolphins for nine seasons.
Tom Lichtenberg (OC/RC/QB/WR, 1981-82) - Quality human being and a true Christian man who was in coaching for all the right reasons. Spent two seasons at Ohio State and served as offensive coordinator at Bowling Green for a season.
David Lockwood (CB, 2001)
Greg Mattison (DC/ILB/DL, 1997-04) - Opinions among fans vary, but it was difficult not to gravitate toward this amiable guy. Had his defensive coordinator duties usurped by Bob Davie when the heat on the head coach became intense. Now he's back at Michigan after a successful stint with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. Solid interview, good guy.
Chuck Martin (DB/RC, 2010-present) - Notre Dame's secondary was top-notch in 2010, and it looks like it will be more of the same under Martin in '11. Watching/listening to Martin work with his defensive backs is a coaching clinic.
John McDonell (OL, 2002-04)
Tom McMahon (DB, 1995-98) - Helped develop Allen Rossum into a top-notch cornerback, but the Irish allowed more than 200 yards passing per game for just the fourth time in school history in '98, which led to his move to Northwestern with head coach Gary Barnett. Eventually became co-defensive coordinator at Colorado, where he lost his battle with inoperable cancer at the age of 53. Yet another great Notre Dame guy.
Urban Meyer (WR/ST, 1996-2000) - Had Meyer been given a chance to coordinate the Notre Dame offense in Bob Davie's first year as head coach of the Irish, who knows where he would be today. But he was just a young wide receivers coach one year removed from Colorado State at the time. After a year with Lou Holtz, Meyer remained with the receivers as Davie named Jim Colletto the offensive coordinator. Following the 2000 season, Meyer took the head-coaching job at Bowling Green and the rest is history. Stepped down from Florida with a remarkable 104-23 career record and two national titles with the Gators.
I spoke with Meyer this spring at Notre Dame for the first time since his departure. I reminded him of our last conversation, which was following the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oregon State in 2000. At the time, I wished him good luck and said, "See you back at Notre Dame," meaning he would return as head coach of the Irish. It seemed like a pipe dream at the time, but very nearly happened just a few years later.
Bill Meyers (OL/DL, 1979-81), Trent Miles (WR, 2002-04)
Rick Minter (DC/LB, 1992-93, 2005-06) - Left Notre Dame for a head coaching opportunity at Cincinnati, and then returned under Charlie Weis. Had a 54-63-1 record with the Bearcats, which was a respectable mark until a guy by the name of Brian Kelly came along.
Interesting interview, cerebral guy. A motivator, particularly during his first stint with the Irish. Used to put signs in the grass leading out to the practice field with motivational words for the players. Middle-of-the-pack defensive ranking during 19-win 2005-06 campaigns prompted Weis to go in another direction. Minter was named Kentucky's co-defensive coordinator for 2011 under former Irish assistant Joe "Joker" Phillips (see below). A true class act.
Charley Molnar (OC/QB, 2010-present) - A good soldier who has developed a solid working relationship as coordinator under Brian Kelly. Has a full plate trying to help Kelly develop a quarterback from among several to lead the Irish to BCS heights.
Joe Moore (OL, 1988-96) - They broke the mold when this guy came around. Beloved (and hated at times) by his players who knew he had their best interests at heart, no matter how tough he was on them. Most Irish offensive linemen had a Joe Moore-smoking-a-cigarette impersonation ready at all times.
Among the offensive linemen developed by Moore at Notre Dame were Aaron Taylor, Tim Ruddy, Dusty Zeigler, Mirko Jurkovic, Mike Heldt, Tim Grunhard and Andy Heck. Irish rushing attack never ranked lower than 12th in eight of his nine seasons in South Bend.
His ugly departure amidst the age discrimination suit brought against Notre Dame/Bob Davie was not the way this relationship should have ended, although his confrontations with Lou Holtz were frequent down the stretch. In the opinion of many, mine included, the most effective assistant football coach at Notre Dame in the last three decades.
Mal Moore (Asst. HC/RB, 1983-85) - A Paul "Bear" Bryant disciple who came to Notre Dame from Tuscaloosa. Around Notre Dame football circles, one of the most highly respected assistant coaches in the modern era. In a word, gentleman.
Earle Mosley (RB, 1992-96)
Jerome "Jappy" Oliver (DL, 2005-08) - Took a good portion of the criticism as the Irish defense deteriorated under Charlie Weis. It shouldn't be forgotten that one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the modern era, Trevor Laws, came into his own under Oliver. Well respected among his peers for being a good guy.
Tom Pagna (RB, 1964-74) - Ara Parseghian's right hand man was truly a student of the game and a craftsman when it came to talking about his profession. His loyalty to Notre Dame/Parseghian was noteworthy. On a personal note, he taught me how to look at the game from a coach's perspective for which I'll always be indebted to the late, great Irish assistant.
John Palermo (DL, 1988-89) - An underrated cog in the 1988-89 run when the Irish went 22-1. Helped developed such standouts as Chris Zorich, Frank Stams, Jeff Alm, Bob Dahl and George "Boo" Williams. Left Notre Dame for head coaching opportunity at Austin Peay, where he promptly went 0-11 in 1990. Landed on his feet in Wisconsin as Barry Alvarez's linebackers and defensive line coach. Made stops with the Miami Hurricanes and Washington Redskins before landing at Middle Tennessee.
Bernie Parmalee (TE, 2005-09), Dean Pees (DB, 1994)
Joe "Joker" Phillips (WR, 2001) - Barely got a chance to know him before he departed following Bob Davie's final season with the Irish. Turned in a respectable 6-7 first season as head coach at Kentucky, which included a victory over No. 10-ranked South Carolina and a mere three-point loss to eventual national champion Auburn.
Brian Polian (ST/DB, 2005-09) - A confident, fiery coach who took that same level of intensity with him on the recruiting trail. Conflicts with Corwin Brown during the latter stages of the Charlie Weis regime probably didn't help him in his quest to be part of Brian Kelly's staff. From observing him work with the special teams, a better coach than the results indicated. Always an informative, entertaining interview. Now in his second season at Stanford.
Ron Powlus (QB, 2007-09) - Charlie Weis wanted a Notre Dame guy on his staff, and the former Irish record-setting quarterback fit the bill at the expense of Peter Vaas (see below). I never got the impression that he was completely comfortable in his skin as a football coach, but served as Jimmy Clausen's mentor/sounding board. In Powlus' last year in the program, Clausen was spectacular.
Buzz Preston (RB, 2002-04) - One of the nicest, most soft-spoken guys around. That's why it was such a shock when Preston snapped the day it was announced that Tyrone Willingham had been fired. I went by the football office that day to see what I could dig up. Preston was stomping mad at Willingham's - and, subsequently - his firing.
John Ray (Asst. HC/DL/LB, 1964-68) - Interviewed him well after his coaching career ended. The architect of Notre Dame's defense which allowed a phenomenal 38 points in 10 games in 1966. (That's not a misprint.) I went to high school with his son, who was a pretty good prep linebacker in his own right.
Dave Roberts (OC/QB/WR, 1994-96) - One of Notre Dame's most dynamic recruiters. Worked well with Ron Powlus. Eventually made three head coaching stops, the last at Baylor, and accumulated a 67-68-3 mark as a head coach. This guy could sell the proverbial ice to an Eskimo.
Jay Robertson (DL, 1982-83), Desmond Robinson (RB, 1997-2001)
Kevin Rogers (OC/QB, 1999-2001) - Opinions vary because Notre Dame's 2001 offense ranked 110th in the country, which ultimately led to the firing of Bob Davie. But he made the best of a tough situation with a true freshman quarterback (Matt LoVecchio) in 2000, ultimately leading to a Fiesta Bowl bid against Oregon State. After stints at Virginia Tech and with the Minnesota Vikings, he'll return to Notre Dame Stadium this year as Boston College's offensive coordinator. From a journalistic standpoint, this was a go-to guy who loved explaining the game of football.
Jerry Rosburg (OLB/DB/ST, 1999-2000), Mike Sanford (QB, 1996-98)
Kurt Schottenheimer (LB, 1986) - The brother of former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer was only at Notre Dame for one season before going to Cleveland. Worked for seven NFL teams from 1987-2010. Had a real physical presence on the football field.
Carl Selmer (OL, 1982-85), Bill Sheridan (DB/ST, 2001)
Gene Smith (ST/JV, 1978-80) - Former Irish defensive end and then assistant coach has his hands full these days as athletic director trying to keep the Ohio State football program on course following Jim Tressel's resignation. I was a reporter for the school newspaper, The Observer, during his coaching stint at Notre Dame.
Ross Stephenson (Scouting, 1975-87) - One of my all-time favorite Notre Dame guys. Used to be college football's equivalent of an "advanced scout" who would attend the game of next week's opponent. Also a very supportive figure in my early days trying to break new ground in the industry.
George Stewart (TE, 1986-88) - One of the truly great guys to coach at Notre Dame. Unfortunately for the Irish, his stay was short-lived as Stewart jumped to the NFL, where he remains as the receivers coach in Minnesota.
Mike Stock (OC/RC/ST/WR, 1969-74, 1983-86) - A Notre Dame guy who served under Ara Parseghian, Gerry Faust and Lou Holtz. Also served as head coach at Eastern Michigan, where he oversaw an unfathomable 27-game losing streak. Coached Herschel Walker with the New Jersey Generals in the USFL. Worked for the Bengals, Chiefs, Redskins, Rams and Packers. I'll never forget riding down the elevator with him to get to the locker room in the Los Angeles Coliseum following Notre Dame's come-from-behind, Tim Brown-led victory over the Trojans in '86.
Charlie Strong (DL/LB, 1995-98) - You knew good things were ahead for this likeable assistant under Lou Holtz and Bob Davie. Went on to acclaim as the defensive coordinator of Urban Meyer's great Florida teams before landing the head coaching position at Louisville.
Jim Strong (OC/RB, 1987-89) - A dynamic personality/recruiter. Was at Notre Dame when the Irish ranked 14th, 11th and 8th nationally in rushing. Vinny Cerrato's top recruiting weapon (outside of Lou Holtz, of course). As the head coach at UNLV from 1990-93, Strong had a 17-27 record. Left coaching for the real estate business after that.
Jon Tenuta (Asst. HC/DC/LB, 2008-09) - Where do I begin? Other than perhaps Joe Moore, there's never been an assistant coach who disliked dealing with the media more than Tenuta. The difference was that Moore would loosen up and give you great insight into the making of a football player. Tenuta, on the other hand, wasn't about to let the lowly media infiltrate his space. The media that had the opportunity to cover Tenuta at Notre Dame still share some humorous recollections of Tenuta's fire-breathing responses to questions that rankled him. Currently serves as Tom O'Brien's linebacker coach at North Carolina State, which is a good match of prickly personalities.
Ron Toman (QB/WR, 1976-80)
Mike Trgovac (Asst. HC/DL, 1992-94) - Played along the defensive line for Bo Schembechler at Michigan. Helped develop such Irish standouts as Bryant Young, Jim Flanigan, Renaldo Wynn, Devon McDonald, Paul Grasmanis and Oliver Gibson. One of Trgovac's favorite stories to tell was when someone would accuse him of having a racist bent. He'd then pull out his wallet and show him a picture of his African-American wife.
Peter Vaas (QB/RB, 1990-91, 2005-06) - The list of players who worked under Vaas at Notre Dame is impressive: RBs Ricky Watters, Rodney Culver, Jerome Bettis, Tony Brooks and Dorsey Levens; QBs Rick Mirer and Brady Quinn. Served as head coach at his alma mater, Holy Cross, for four seasons following his first stint with the Irish. Joined Mike Haywood at Miami of Ohio as offensive coordinator. Will return to Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 3 as quarterbacks coach under Skip Holtz at South Florida. If there was ever an assistant coach who didn't deserve to be let go, it was Vaas following the Brady Quinn era at Notre Dame.
Trent Walters (DB, 2002-03)
Ed Warinner (OL, 2010-present) - Warinner is quietly developing a top-notch offensive line after serving as offensive coordinator at Kansas.
Joe Wessel (DE, 1992-93), Lou West (DB/OLB, 1999-2000), Steven Wilks (DB, 2004)
Frank Verducci (OL, 2009) - Thoughtful, articulate coach who seemed to communicate as well on the field as he did off the field with the media. I would have liked an opportunity to get to know him better and pick his brain. He'll serve as Florida's offensive line coach in 2011.
Tony Yelovich (RC/OL/WR/TE/ST, 1986-94) - The answer to a Notre Dame trivia question: Who did Joe Moore succeed as offensive line coach at Notre Dame? It's Yelovich, who shared duties with Moore in '88 before working with the receivers, tight ends and kickers his last few years on the field. He served as Notre Dame's recruiting coordinator from 1991-94. He then joined Notre Dame's athletic administration and serves as assistant athletic director today. T. Yelo always went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to discussing recruiting.
Joe Yonto (DC/DL, 1964-80, 1986-87) - The proverbial example of saving the best for last. Let's start with the amazing group of defensive linemen he helped develop: Alan Page, Pete Duranko, Kevin Hardy, Mike McCoy, Walt Patulski, Mike Kadish, Greg Marx, Mike Fanning, Steve Niehaus, Ross Browner, Willie Fry, Bob Golic, Scott Zettek and Wally Kleine. On a personal note, he supported my work for a fledgling newspaper trying to break into the business of covering Notre Dame football when it wasn't a popular thing to do. The late Joe Yonto epitomized the term "Notre Dame man."