Report: Utah OC Andy Ludwig emerging as 'finalist' for Notre Dame offensive coordinator opening

Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator search appears to be taking a new turn. Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig is set to arrive on campus “soon,” ESPN’s Heather Dinich reported Friday.

Ludwig is considered a finalist for the job, according to Dinich, but hasn’t formally been offered the job yet. However, she indicated it’s a “strong possibility” he lands the offer.

Ludwig spoke with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman via Zoom earlier this week, and Dinich reported he “impressed” during the conversation. He flew to South Bend on Friday.

Ludwig has spent the last four seasons with Utah under head coach Kyle Whittingham and has played a key role in the development of Cameron Rising. This past season, the Utes ranked fifth in the Pac-12 in total offense with 466.9 yards per game and finished fifth in the league in scoring defense, averaging 38.6 points per game.

Ludwig has a wealth of experience to his name as a coordinator. He got his first offensive coordinator job at Cal Poly in 1997 and moved to the same role at Fresno State from 1998-2001. Oregon brought him aboard as its OC from 2002-04 and he had his first go-round with Utah from 2005-08 when Whittingham took over for Urban Meyer.

In 2009, Ludwig became the offensive coordinator at Cal and then headed to San Diego State from 2011-12. From there, he headed to Wisconsin from 2013-14 and Vanderbilt from 2015-18 before returning to Utah in 2019.

Notre Dame is working to replace Tommy Rees, who recently left the Fighting Irish to take the offensive coordinator job at Alabama under Nick Saban. Head coach Marcus Freeman saw a potential top target take his name off the board earlier Friday when Collin Klein opted to stay at Kansas State, according to reports.

Collin Klein was Notre Dame’s top choice, according to K-State Online

Derek Young of On3 and K-State Online wrote earlier Friday that he thought the Wildcats were going to be able to keep Collin Klein away from Notre Dame.

“Klein has had a lot to think about, both from a professional and personal standpoint and that includes his love for his alma mater,” Young said. “We’re likely to hear something very soon since he can’t keep the Fighting Irish in the lurch, but all signs point to him remaining with the Wildcats as of now.”

This was despite the fact that the Fighting Irish had made him the team’s top target, Young said. Keeping someone with the coaching bonafides and like Klein is a huge win for the program.

“From what we have gathered, the job is Klein’s if he wants it,” Young wrote. “Obviously, by the amount of energy he has poured into it, the interest was very mutual and he valued the opportunity. But everything I’m hearing would suggest that he will remain at Kansas State.”

On3’s Peter Warren contributed to this report.