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Deland McCullough leaving Notre Dame to coach RBs with Las Vegas Raiders

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•about 9 hours•

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Deland McCullough was hired as Notre Dame running backs coach in January 2022 (Chad Weaver/Blue & Gold).

Outside of losing defensive coordinator Al Golden to the Cincinnati Bengals, Notre Dame had done a great job of keeping its on-field coaching staff intact this offseason. The Fighting Irish took a blow in that department Wednesday, however.

Running backs coach Deland McCullough is taking the same job with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Matt Freeman of Irish Sports Daily first reported the news just after 10 p.m. ET Wednesday. Blue & Gold confirmed it with a source shortly thereafter.

McCullough spent three seasons in charge of Notre Dame’s running backs. He’s overseen some spectacular seasons for Fighting Irish tailbacks, from Audric Estimé in 2023 to Jeremiyah Love last year.

McCullough did not recruit and sign Estimé, but he coached him through a 1,341-yard season a couple years ago. He sealed the deal on Love’s signing, meanwhile, and helped him put forth an immaculate season for the sophomore in which Love ran 162 times for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Estimé outburst in 2023 was a bit of an anomaly in terms of McCullough’s tutelage. His calling card at Notre Dame was relying on multiple players to produce a widespread product. Junior Jadarian Price, for instance, ran 120 times for 746 yards and 7 touchdowns in the 2024 season. In 2022, Estimé shared the backfield with Logan Diggs and Chris Tyree. They all reached at least 100 carries in that season and combined for 1,586 rushing yards among the trio.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman nabbed McCullough from Indiana after the 2021 season. McCullough was the associate head coach and running backs coach for the Hoosiers for that lone campaign. Previously, he was the running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018-20. He won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs during that stint.

The Miami (Ohio) graduate began his college coaching career as an intern at his alma mater in 2010. He was Indiana’s running backs coach from 2011-16 before holding the same time at USC in 2017.

McCullough got rising senior running back Gi’Bran Payne to transfer to Notre Dame from Indiana after the 2021 season. His son, Deland McCullough II, is an analyst focusing on high school relations on the Notre Dame coaching staff. McCullough was only in South Bend for three years, but he made major inroads by way of recruiting, developing and coaching. His presence will be missed.

Check back with Blue & Gold throughout the week for a list of potential candidates to replace McCullough.

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