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Notre Dame defensive analyst Nick Lezynski leaving for job at Vanderbilt

On3 imageby:Patrick Engel•02/11/22•

PatrickEngel_

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(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Notre Dame is reportedly losing a longtime defensive staff member.

Defensive analyst Nick Lezynski is leaving to become Vanderbilt’s linebackers coach, according to a report from FootballScoop. He will reunite with former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea, who is entering his second season as the Commodores’ head coach.

Lezynski – a former Notre Dame walk-on from 2007-11 – has been on staff at his alma mater since 2018. He started as a graduate assistant and served as a senior defensive analyst in 2021. He assisted Lea and now-Irish head coach Marcus Freeman with the linebackers during each’s stint as defensive coordinator. Following Freeman’s promotion, he was the acting linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the 2021 Fiesta Bowl.

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Vanderbilt and Lea, though, offered him a full-time position coach opportunity before Notre Dame did.

Lezynski began his coaching career in 2012 as the assistant secondary coach at FCS program Holy Cross. He was a graduate assistant at UConn from 2014-16, where he worked for Bob Diaco, his former defensive coordinator at Notre Dame. He spent the 2017 season at Lafayette before coming to Notre Dame.

Notre Dame sent Lezynski on the road recruiting each of the last two offseasons amid staff changes. He was also involved in the Irish’s recruitment of several important commitments, including 2022 four-star linebacker signee Joshua Burnham. Lea initially offered Burnham and Freeman continued the Irish’s pursuit, but Lezynski was critical in bridging the gap between them.

“He has been there every step of the way,” Burnham said of Lezynski after his March 2021 commitment.

Lezynski played a part in Notre Dame’s most recent recruiting victory: 2023 Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic linebacker Preston Zinter, who committed Friday.

At Vanderbilt, Lezynski replaces John Egorugwu, who is reportedly leaving for an NFL job with the New York Giants. The Commodores went 2-10 and 0-8 in the SEC in Lea’s first season.

Notre Dame has hired six assistant coaches this offseason and is still searching for a defensive coordinator to replace Freeman. The linebackers coach role is also open, but the new coordinator is expected to fill that position as well.

So far, the Irish have announced the hires of running backs coach Deland McCullough, wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, defensive line coach Al Washington and special teams coordinator Brian Mason. Tight ends coach Gerad Parker has not been officially hired yet, but he agreed to join the staff in early February.

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