5 coaches that would salvage Notre Dame’s recruiting classes
It’s now official. Brian Kelly has been announced as the new head coach at LSU. Kelly’s got a tough task ahead of him to win head-to-head recruiting battles against the SEC giants. But what about Notre Dame?
Notre Dame has the No. 5 2022 recruiting class in the country, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings. The Fighting Irish had also gotten off to a great start with the 2023 class with six early commitments and the second-best class in the country.
So, who is the perfect head-coaching candidate to save Notre Dame’s classes and keep the momentum going that was built under Kelly? On3 looks at five coaches that would salvage Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts.
Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell
In most years, this seems like it would be a slam dunk, no-brainer decision. Luke Fickell has Cincinnati positioned to make the College Football Playoff. If Cincinnati does make the CFP, it means Fickell would not be available until January, at the earliest.
In recruiting, a month is an eternity. Especially when the start of the early signing period is now only 16 days away.
The timing could make it awfully tricky, but if Notre Dame is willing to be patient, the move could pay off long term.
Fickell is 47-14 at Cincinnati and 43-6 since the start of the 2018 season. He understands the recruiting landscape in the Midwest and isn’t afraid to fight battles against the big boys.
Fickell also has brand awareness and a coolness factor with targets from coast to coast that would likely give the Irish immediate momentum with some of the best of the best. He also has enough coaching connections that would allow him to hire a quality staff that would keep Notre Dame from losing too much national appeal.
But the question still remains, is the timing right?
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman
Marcus Freeman has only been on campus in South Bend for around a year, but he’s made a big impression on the Notre Dame defense and on the recruiting trail for the Fighting Irish.
Freeman is a tireless recruiter that is one of the best in the game with building relationships with prospects and their families.
As a former Ohio State linebacker, star recruit coming out of the Dayton area, and a coach that has spent his entire career in Ohio and Indiana, he also understands the landscape that Notre Dame recruits better than many on this list. He’s also got the full support of a number of Notre Dame’s 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes.
From a recruiting standpoint, Marcus Freeman checks a lot of boxes. But are the Irish ready to hand the keys to a young coach that has never been a Power 5 head coach?
It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Freeman regardless. Based on a report from The Athletic, Kelly is hoping to bring Freeman with him to LSU for a deal that would make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell
National observers probably don’t give Matt Campbell the respect he deserves for his recruiting efforts.
His signings have never ranked high in the class rankings, but he’s found enough talent – at Iowa State – to finish No. 9 last season and win the Fiesta Bowl. His 2022 recruiting class is No. 29 in the country. He’s also recruited plenty of All-Americans like running back Breece Hall.
You have to imagine if he can find hidden gems, develop talent and recruit well enough to win consistently at Iowa State, the same would be true at Notre Dame.
Campbell is also a native Ohioan. His background and knowledge of the recruiting landscape in the region would suit Notre Dame well. He also has strong coaching connections that should help him assemble a quality staff that would recruit well on the national level.
Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule
With the Panthers struggling for a second straight season, Matt Rhule’s name has started to percolate increasingly with some of the vacant college head coaching positions.
Rhule had success at Temple and Baylor before leaving for Carolina. He is also a New York native that played at Penn State. He knows the Midwest and Northeast recruiting landscape. Rhule would also bring a Texas background from his time at Baylor. Rhule also has experience in dealing with free agency in the NFL. That’s essentially what the transfer portal has become in college football.
That’s a pretty alluring combination of head coaching experience, winning background and knowledge of the recruiting world. But is the timing right for him to leave the NFL to head back to the college game?
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi
With his success at Pitt and as the defensive coordinator at Michigan State, Pat Narduzzi knows the Big Ten and ACC recruiting footprint that Notre Dame uses for the foundation of its classes.
He could walk into any high school in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and immediately be known by the coaches and prospects. Plus, with Pitt’s ability to go into Florida and Georgia, he’s proven he can recruit nationally.
But would Narduzzi get recruits as fired up as others on this list? It is a fair question. But those that deal with him on the trail rave about his attention to detail and relationship building.