Notre Dame unveils new coaching staff

Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

The Notre Dame coaching staff has a few new faces for the players to get used to.

Coach Brian Kelly introduced the staff on Friday, detailing the changes that have taken place since losing three coaches — all of them on offense — over the past few months.

“When you do not reach the goals that you’re looking to reach, it’s not just about your players,” Kelly said. “You have to evaluate players. You have to evaluate systems. You have to evaluate coaches.

“And today was to announce what I believe are some significant improvements within our staff that are going to allow us to move forward. We believe our foundation has been set.”

Chuck Martin, the safeties coach and recruiting coordinator for Kelly last season, has switched sides and will be the offensive coordinator next season. He replaces Charley Molnar, who left to become the head coach at Massachusetts.

“When you’re talking about an offensive coordinator, it’s not about what you put up on the blackboard, it’s about your ability to lead and communicate, it’s your ability to get your players to play at the level necessary,” Kelly said. “Chuck’s already demonstrated that, and he brings with him the experience of knowing the offense that we’re already running.”

It was Martin who coached for four years under Kelly at Grand Valley State and took over the program when Kelly left. In six seasons as head coach, Martin continued to run the spread offensive system Kelly installed and the two will work together again at Notre Dame. Kelly said he will continue to call the plays on game days.

Martin will also be in charge of the quarterbacks on a day-to-day basis with a four-man race for the starting position under way.

“I just want to win football games at Notre Dame, period, end of story,” Martin said. “I think that’s part of why (Kelly) made the decision. He knows I don’t have another agenda. I’m not into these stats. I’m not into building my offensive empire resume. I’m kind of a nomad. I’m an offensive guy, I’m a defensive guy.”

Also gone are Ed Warinner, the offensive line coach, and Tim Hinton, the running backs coach who joined Urban Meyer’s staff at Ohio State.