Longo Out, Polian To Specials, Quinn To Tight Ends

[IrishInOntario]

Paul Longo being reassigned, with a new strength staff expected to be introduced. Brian Polian coming back to ND as the special teams coordinator. Mike Elston back to defensive line, and could be co-coordinator to Elko (with Elko calling the defense). Clark Lea expected to come along with Elko from Wake Forest. Gilmore expected to be out at ND and Todd Lyght retained. Greg Hudson back to analyst role.

All per several sources around the ND program, first reported on TOS.

 

[BGI User 1596]

Paul Longo being reassigned, with a new strength staff expected to be introduced. Brian Polian coming back to ND as the special teams coordinator. Mike Elston back to defensive line, and could be co-coordinator to Elko (with Elko calling the defense). Clark Lea expected to come along with Elko from Wake Forest. Gilmore expected to be out at ND and Todd Lyght retained. Greg Hudson back to analyst role.

All per several sources around the ND program, first reported on TOS.

Is he taking his stretchy bands with him?

 

[IrishInOntario]

As it stands right now...

HC / QB: Brian Kelly
OC / TE: Jeff Quinn
OC / WR: Mike Denbrock
OL: Harry Hiestand
RB: Autry Denson
ST: Brian Polian
DC / S: Mike Elko
DL / DC / RC: Mike Elston
LB: Clark Lea
CB: Todd Lyght

 

[twalsh]

Paul Longo being reassigned, with a new strength staff expected to be introduced. Brian Polian coming back to ND as the special teams coordinator. Mike Elston back to defensive line, and could be co-coordinator to Elko (with Elko calling the defense). Clark Lea expected to come along with Elko from Wake Forest. Gilmore expected to be out at ND and Todd Lyght retained. Greg Hudson back to analyst role.

All per several sources around the ND program, first reported on TOS.

Bringing Quinn back into the OC capacity seems obvious, why are we waiting on an announcement? Would they really be looking outside the program for that spot?

Been a pretty good week for ND football as far as staffing goes and us holding all of our EEs. We could use a little positive mojo on our way to signing day six weeks from now.

 

[Toby Smart]

I wasn't sure if Coach Elston would stick around if he didn't get the DC position , but, it looks like he's in. BK may have to give Elston another title and some defensive responsibility to make it all good after not getting the DC position.

 

[Classic Irish]

As it stands right now...

HC / QB: Brian Kelly
OC / TE: Jeff Quinn
OC / WR: Mike Denbrock
OL: Harry Hiestand
RB: Autry Denson
ST: Brian Polian
DC / S: Mike Elko
DL / DC / RC: Mike Elston
LB: Clark Lea
CB: Todd Lyght

IIO, what do you know about Clark Lea? Thanks in advance.

 

[MTIrish98]

Press Release from Wake on Lea's hiring a year ago.

http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021716aaa.html

 

[TXNDFan88]

Kelly is not playing around!

 

[1Redrum]

Did we hire John Brown to the staff as strength and conditioning coordinator?

 

[1Redrum]

I am not sure why (it was not the results) but I liked Gilmore. Maybe it was the pizza he shared with the defense on the Showtime series a Season with Notre Dame.

 

[NDAyers]

So more bad special teams. Polian's unit was atrocious when he was here with Weis.

 

[BGI User 1596]

Did we hire John Brown to the staff as strength and conditioning coordinator?

A-mouldering in the grave!

 

[Shakin' Down the Thunder]

That's great and all, but when does ND get a new head coach?

 

[stu4don]

With the talk of Briles at OC Kelly is turning to a young, up and coming staff. Like the moves. Elko 39, Briles 34, Lea 30s, that should translate to excitement and a hungry d.

 

[Domer7]

Paul Longo being reassigned, with a new strength staff expected to be introduced. Brian Polian coming back to ND as the special teams coordinator. Mike Elston back to defensive line, and could be co-coordinator to Elko (with Elko calling the defense). Clark Lea expected to come along with Elko from Wake Forest. Gilmore expected to be out at ND and Todd Lyght retained. Greg Hudson back to analyst role.

All per several sources around the ND program, first reported on TOS.

Please no more of these "co-coordinator" fiascos. Have we forgotten the disaster with Brown/Tennuna? With all the issues on defense, it is imperative the new guy has a clean and free reign. Keeping Elston on the defense just sets up potential conflicts, especially with reportedly several players lobbing for him to become co-ordinator. There are other options for retaining him.

 

[zonairish]

Kelly is not playing around!

he will be fired if he does play around

 

[Domerdad]

So more bad special teams. Polian's unit was atrocious when he was here with Weis.

I share this concern. My recollection is they were awful under Polian. Very disappointing at first blush but maybe staff has some data to the contrary.

 

[floridairish]

Kelly is a proven winner. Look at his record and stop reading the comments of a handful of posters who on their best day know absolutely nothing about coaching football.

When you are a Head Coach for 20 plus years and are massively successful like Brian Kelly you can begin to start "smoking your own dope" lose your edge and coach with blinders on. Then a season like this comes along and kicks you square in the ass. A proven winner will refocus, reorganize and get the train back on track. 2017 will resemble 2015 and will look nothing like 2016. And the haters/losers/snowflakes will be sad again

 

[Gimmea10wincoach]

Kelly is a proven winner. Look at his record and stop reading the comments of a handful of posters who on their best day know absolutely nothing about coaching football.

When you are a Head Coach for 20 plus years and are massively successful like Brian Kelly you can begin to start "smoking your own dope" lose your edge and coach with blinders on. Then a season like this comes along and kicks you square in the ass. A proven winner will refocus, reorganize and get the train back on track. 2017 will resemble 2015 and will look nothing like 2016. And the haters/losers/snowflakes will be sad again

38-31 7 yrs. If thats the criteria? Sign me up for purple face Kelly at Cincy where he was 34-6.That's what we hired! Not the 31 loss clone!

 

[ignatiusjk]

Paul Longo being reassigned, with a new strength staff expected to be introduced. Brian Polian coming back to ND as the special teams coordinator. Mike Elston back to defensive line, and could be co-coordinator to Elko (with Elko calling the defense). Clark Lea expected to come along with Elko from Wake Forest. Gilmore expected to be out at ND and Todd Lyght retained. Greg Hudson back to analyst role.

All per several sources around the ND program, first reported on TOS.

What exactly is a special teams coordinator is he coaching ST's or is someone else.ONE PERSON !!! needs to be in charge of special teams. Our ST's are beyond a joke.

 

[Tru2Irish]

What exactly is a special teams coordinator is he coaching ST's or is someone else.ONE PERSON !!! needs to be in charge of special teams. Our ST's are beyond a joke.

Whether it be Polian or anyone else,he has to set the right mindset into the players to take pride in being a special teams player. These kids were used to being the"man" on their respective high school teams not special teams. Teach these players mental and physical toughness in ST play and ND will see improvement.

 

[BGI User 348]

I am all for loyalty.....so long as it comes with performance!! What has bothered me about ND is once our players start working out with others for the NFL....they start looking like STUDS!!!??? We need STUDS at ND!!!

NC or bust BK!!!

 

[impossibilityofreason1]

Well we are replacing Longo.

 

[BGI User 1596]

Well we are replacing Longo.

About time!

 

[Kelso86]

Whether it be Polian or anyone else,he has to set the right mindset into the players to take pride in being a special teams player. These kids were used to being the"man" on their respective high school teams not special teams. Teach these players mental and physical toughness in ST play and ND will see improvement.

Absolutely! And, during spring ball, spend some time at Ohio State -- they teach and coach ST's very hard. To quote some players, they say it is a privilege to play on special teams.