Running down the list | by Pat
The whole staff, minus new father Mike Elston, assembled for a press conference and interview session this past Friday. Und.com has the collection of transcripts and videos which are worth your time. It's a nice way to put some faces and voices with names.
Since the coaching staff names were doled out over time, I figure it might be handy to put all the names, faces, and interesting bio bits in one spot. For each coach I'll list the standard name, rank and serial number and then will throw in how many years they have spent coaching the position they will coach for ND, which BCS conference schools they have previously worked at (including work as a GA), if they have served as a recruiting coordinator in the past, and any somewhat interesting bit of trivia about them.
Offense
Name: Charley Molnar
Position: Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks
Years Coaching this position: 10 (OC) & 16 (QB)
BCS teams: Virginia (2 years), Cincinnati (3 years)
Recruiting coordinator experience: Yes
Trivia bit: Worked with both Alford and Denbrock at earlier coaching stops
Name: Ed Warinner
Position: Offensive Line Coach
Years Coaching this position: 16
BCS teams: MSU (2), Kansas (5), Illinois (2)
Recruiting coordinator experience: Yes
Trivia bit: Only coach who hasn't worked with Kelly yet.
Name: Tim Hinton
Position: Running Backs
Years Coaching this position: 5
BCS teams: Ohio State (2), Cincinnati (6)
Recruiting coordinator experience: Yes
Trivia bit: Coached LBs for Kelly at UC before switching back to RBs
Name: Tony Alford
Position: Wide Receivers
Years Coaching this position: 0
BCS teams: Washington (1), Iowa State (9), Louisville (2)
Recruiting coordinator experience: No
Trivia bit: His brother Aaron coaches for next year opponent Utah
Name: Mike Denbrock
Position: Tight Ends
Years Coaching this position: 10
BCS teams: Stanford (1), ND (3), Washington (4)
Recruiting coordinator experience: No
Trivia bit: Was both OC and DC for Brian Kelly at Grand Valley State
Name: Michael Painter
Position: Offensive Graduate Assistant
Previously at: Central Michigan, Cincinnati
Trivia bit: Played under Larry Kehres in college, the winningest active coach in football
DEFENSE
Name: Bob Diaco
Position: Defensive coordinator & Inside Linebackers
Years Coaching this position: 2
BCS teams: Iowa (2), Virginia (3), Cincinnati (1)
Recruiting coordinator experience: No
Trivia bit: Butkus Award Semi-finalist as LB at Iowa
Name: Mike Elston
Position: Defensive Line & Special Teams Coordinator
Years Coaching this position: 6
BCS teams: Michigan (2), Cincinnati (3)
Recruiting coordinator experience: Yes
Trivia bit: 3 for 3 in having UC player win Big East Special Teams Player of the Year
Name: Kerry Cooks
Position: Outside Linebackers
Years Coaching this position: 0
BCS teams: Kansas St. (1), Minnesota (1), Wisconsin (3)
Recruiting coordinator experience: No
Trivia bit: College teammate of Bob Diaco at Iowa
Name: Chuck Martin
Position: Defensive Backs
Years Coaching this position: 6
BCS teams: N/A
Recruiting coordinator experience: No
Trivia bit: 74-7 record as head coach at Grand Valley State
Name: Bill Brechin
Position: Defensive Graduate Assistant
Previously at: Grand Valley State
Trivia Bit: Went 40-1 as a player under Martin
Strength and Conditioning Staff
Name: Paul Longo
Position: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Years Coaching this position: 22
BCS teams: Wisconsin (1), Iowa (15), Cincinnati (3)
Trivia bit: Was strength coach at Iowa for Cooks and Diaco
Name: Jacob Flint
Position: Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Years Coaching this position: 3
BCS teams: Cincinnati (3)
Trivia bit: Is a nationally ranked competitive weightlifter
Name: Lorenzo Guess
Position: Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Years Coaching this position: 5
BCS teams: South Florida (1), Cincinnati (2)
Trivia bit: Was the Tight Ends coach at Cincinnati last season
So, what do you think? It's definitely a younger staff than the one under Charlie. And if you watch the interviews they do seem to be more personable across the board. Most of them come from similar midwest oriented backgrounds, so at least from a recruiting perspective, ND might get a higher percentage of midwest players in the next few classes. (It took Polian a few classes until he started to reel in California players with regularity) As for their coaching ability, well, we'll all have to wait and see how the team looks next fall.
