Reflecting on Notre Dame’s Five Most Disappointing Assistant Coaching Hires of the Century That Slowed Program Momentum and Growth
Notre Dame football is synonymous with excellence, tradition, and national prestige. With eleven national championships, countless All-Americans, and one of the most passionate fan bases in college sports, expectations in South Bend are always sky high. That pressure doesn’t just apply to the head coach—it trickles down through the entire coaching staff. Every assistant hire is scrutinized, every move analyzed, and every misstep amplified. While the Fighting Irish have made some excellent assistant coaching hires over the years, there have also been some glaring miscalculations that have, at times, stalled the program’s progress or disrupted its continuity. Looking back at the 21st century so far, several assistant coaching hires stand out as major misfires.
These are not simply hires that didn’t work out statistically, but ones that carried serious consequences—whether through on-field performance, cultural fit, recruiting failures, or just plain bad timing. In a program where the difference between a 9-3 season and a College Football Playoff berth can hinge on details, assistant coaches play an outsized role. And when the wrong hires are made, the ripple effects are felt deeply. From defensive disasters to offensive misfires, here’s a look back at the top five assistant coaching hiring hiccups Notre Dame has made since the year 2000.
One of the most discussed assistant coaching disasters in recent Notre Dame history came during the Charlie Weis era when Corwin Brown was hired as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2007. A former Michigan defensive back and NFL veteran, Brown was brought in to bring aggression and a professional pedigree to Notre Dame’s defense. What followed, however, was two years of erratic performance, poor tackling, and questionable scheme adjustments. Under Brown’s watch in 2007 and 2008, Notre Dame’s defense struggled mightily against physical opponents and lacked consistency across all levels. While Brown showed promise as a recruiter and was a strong interview, he had limited experience coordinating at the collegiate level, and that inexperience showed on Saturdays. Ultimately, the defensive unit never developed the edge or discipline that the staff had hoped for. Brown was demoted and later dismissed when Brian Kelly took over in 2010, and his tenure remains a cautionary tale about elevating inexperienced assistants to major roles without enough support or mentorship.
Another major blunder came in 2016 under Brian Kelly, when he hired Brian VanGorder to run the defense—a move that would go down as one of the most divisive decisions of Kelly’s early tenure. VanGorder, known for his complex NFL-style defensive schemes, was tasked with revamping Notre Dame’s defense and bringing a new level of sophistication. Instead, his system proved to be overly complicated for college players, resulting in hesitation, miscommunication, and blown assignments across the board. The defense routinely looked lost against even average opponents. The 2016 season, which began with high expectations, quickly unraveled into a disastrous 4-8 campaign, with the defense bearing much of the blame. VanGorder was fired mid-season after a humiliating home loss to Duke, and his tenure left a stain on Kelly’s otherwise impressive ability to build a staff. The VanGorder experiment stands out not just for its poor results, but for its predictability—many had warned that his NFL mindset wouldn’t translate to the college level, and unfortunately, those warnings proved accurate.
On the offensive side, the hiring of DelVaughn Alexander as wide receivers coach in 2017 also proved problematic. While Alexander had prior experience at schools like Arizona State and USC, his tenure at Notre Dame was marred by inconsistent development at a position that should have been a strength. During his years with the Irish, the wide receiver unit struggled with drops, poor route running, and a lack of separation against top-tier defenses. Perhaps more damaging was his performance on the recruiting trail. Notre Dame, historically a top destination for elite pass catchers, saw several high-profile misses under Alexander, with some wideouts citing a lack of relationship-building as a key factor. In a sport increasingly dominated by dynamic playmakers, Notre Dame found itself falling behind. Alexander was eventually replaced by Chansi Stuckey, and the contrast in recruiting energy and player development was immediately noticeable. While not as catastrophic as other hires, Alexander’s underwhelming stint slowed offensive progress during key seasons.
Turning back the clock, another misfire occurred early in the 2000s during the Bob Davie era with the hiring of offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers. Brought in to modernize an offense that had become predictable and stale, Rogers instead oversaw a unit that lacked identity and creativity. While Davie’s tenure itself was already floundering by the time Rogers joined the staff, the offensive regression under Rogers was glaring. Quarterback play suffered, and the offense often looked ill-prepared against high-level opponents. Notre Dame’s inability to score in big moments contributed heavily to its struggles in the early 2000s, and while Rogers wasn’t solely to blame, he symbolized a broader issue: a disconnect between vision and execution. His time in South Bend was short-lived, and the offense didn’t regain traction until the Tyrone Willingham era, which brought a new scheme and direction—albeit with mixed results of its own.
More recently, in 2022, Marcus Freeman’s decision to promote Tommy Rees to full-time offensive coordinator continued to stir debate well after Rees left for Alabama. While Rees is an alum and a highly intelligent football mind, his playcalling often came under fire for being overly conservative or lacking rhythm. The 2022 and early 2023 seasons featured strong defenses and talented offensive lines, but the Irish offense often sputtered in crucial moments—particularly against elite teams. Rees struggled to develop explosive pass plays and often leaned too heavily on the run game in predictable situations. This hamstrung quarterbacks like Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne and limited the ceiling of what could have been a more dynamic offense. While Rees did some good things—particularly in QB development—his failure to consistently elevate the offense ultimately made his tenure feel like a missed opportunity. When he left for Alabama, many fans saw it as an overdue parting of ways, and Freeman’s decision to bring in Gerad Parker in 2023 (which brought its own issues) further underscored how delicate and impactful these hires can be.
Each of these five assistant coaching hires—Brown, VanGorder, Alexander, Rogers, and Rees—serve as important reminders that, at Notre Dame, the margin for error is thin. One poor staff decision can derail a season or set a recruiting class back years. While head coaches carry the brunt of the responsibility, they are only as strong as the assistants they surround themselves with. In college football, where preparation, development, and recruiting are everything, assistants play critical roles that go far beyond game-day playcalling.
Notre Dame has made strides in recent years to improve the quality of its staff, investing more heavily in coaching salaries and support infrastructure. Freeman, in particular, has shown a willingness to adjust quickly—making bold changes when things aren’t working. That adaptability may help the program avoid future missteps and build a more sustainable culture of success.
But the lessons from these past hires are clear. Cultural fit matters. Scheme must align with personnel. Recruiting acumen cannot be optional. And above all, experience and results at the college level often matter more than flashy résumés or NFL credentials.
As Notre Dame continues to push for its next national championship, the staff behind the scenes will be just as important as the stars on the field. With the right hires, the Irish have the talent and tradition to reach the top. But as history shows, when the wrong decisions are made in the coaching offices, the program’s ceiling drops fast—and the climb back up can be steep.
