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In the midst of his third season as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, Brian VanGorder has been fired.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly officially announced the firing Sunday afternoon, shortly after Football Scoop fired reported the news.

"This is a difficult decision," Kelly said in a statement. "I have the utmost respect for Brian as both a person and football coach, but our defense simply isn't it where it should be and I believe this change is necessary for the best interest of our program and our student-athletes."

Kelly announced that Greg Hudson will assume coordinator duties. Hudson has served as a defensive coordinator at Purdue, East Carolina and Minnesota, as well as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Florida State.

Hudson joined the Notre Dame staff in June as a defensive analyst.

"It's never easy to make a change on your staff, but I'm confident in Greg's ability to lead our defense. As a former player at Notre Dame and an experienced defensive coordinator, he not only understands the expectations necessary to compete at the highest level, but he'll bring a fresh perspective to our sideline, practice field and meeting rooms."

Hudson is a 1990 Notre Dame graduate and was a graduate assistant for the Irish in 1993. He takes over a defense currently ranked 103 in total defense, 101st in scoring defense, 96th in rushing, tied for 126th in sacks and tied for 114th in tackles for loss.

"Obviously, this is a difficult day for our coaching staff, but I'm excited and honored about the opportunity that Coach Kelly has afforded me," Hudson said in the release. "We've got to improve on defense, without a doubt, and I'm confident that we will. We have great student-athletes and a tremendous defensive coaching staff. I can't wait to get started with our group."

Kelly is scheduled to speak to the media on his Sunday teleconference at 2 p.m.

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