Scott Booker Out At Notre Dame

Blue & Gold Illustrated has confirmed through a source that Scott Booker will not return as Notre Dame’s tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.

Booker, who graduated from Kent State in 2003, has overseen the Irish special teams since 2012. Notre Dame allowed five return touchdowns in 2016: a kick return by Duke, a blocked punt by North Carolina State, a fumbled punt recovered by Miami and a kick and punt return by USC.

Following the loss to USC, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly hinted that changes were likely coming.

“Everything’s on the table,” Kelly said. “I think I had to evaluate a lot of things within the program. There’s some really good things in place. But there’s always, I’ve always felt that the blend of continuity and change is the sweet spot.

“And for me, we need to clearly look at where that is because it was off. And so I have to clearly look at where that mix is of continuity and change.”

Booker served as the secondary coach for Western Kentucky (2009) and Kent State (2005-08) prior to being hired by Kelly as a defensive intern for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Production has also declined from the team’s tight ends under Booker. In 2016, senior Durham Smythe led the tight ends with just nine catches.