Report: Names of initial interest emerge in Notre Dame offensive coordinator search
Marcus Freeman is looking for an offensive coordinator to replace Tommy Rees, who left Notre Dame Friday to take the same job at Alabama. A few names of initial interest have reportedly emerged in the search.
According to a Tuesday afternoon report from FootballScoop’s John Brice, Notre Dame is “vetting” Toledo head coach Jason Candle, Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and “at least one other high-level Power Five offensive coordinator.” A source previously told BlueandGold.com that Akron head coach Joe Moorhead is also a name of interest.
FootballScoop reports that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson are names to monitor for the job. A Monday report from 247Sports said that Leftwich had contacted Notre Dame about the job, and he and Freeman have remained in touch.
“Any preliminary talks between the Irish and Leftwich have minimal depth,” Brice wrote.
Conversations with candidates were held Monday and Tuesday, according to Brice’s report. ESPN’s Heather Dinich reported Monday that Freeman is hoping to have candidates on campus for interviews later in the week.
Brice also reported Leftwich’s and Johnson’s preference is to remain in the NFL, where offensive coordinator jobs are still available. Johnson’s season is still ongoing. The Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl Feb. 12.
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Leftwich, 43, has only worked in the NFL since entering the coaching ranks in 2016 and spent the last four years as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator. Johnson, 35, is in his second year with the Eagles – his first NFL job after 11 seasons in college football. His college offensive coordinator jobs were Florida (2020), Houston (2017) and Utah (2012-13).
Several of the college candidates represent big swings for Freeman and Notre Dame.
The 43-year-old Candle, Toledo’s head coach since 2016, signed a contract extension in December that will pay him $1.1 million annually. The Rockets won the Mid-American Conference in 2022. He reportedly turned down a chance to be Miami’s offensive coordinator last winter, and per Brice, is “mulling a verbal offer” from the Hurricanes again this offseason.
Grubb, 47, was a name of serious interest in Alabama’s search before it turned to Rees, but he remained at Washington, where he reportedly earned a pay raise to $2 million per year in December. Lewis, 36, left his job as Kent State head coach in December to be Colorado’s offensive coordinator.
Moorhead, 49 went 2-10 in his first season at Akron. He was Oregon’s offensive coordinator (2020-21), Mississippi State’s head coach (2018-19) and Penn State’s offensive coordinator (2016-17) before that. The 58-year-old Ludwig has been Utah’s offensive coordinator since 2019 and has held a coordinator title on an FBS coaching staff every year since 1998.
