Notre Dame makes Joe Rudolph hiring as offensive line coach official
Notre Dame has officially brought its next offensive line coach on board. Joe Rudolph, whose expected hire was first reported Feb. 27, was formally announced as a member of the Irish’s staff Tuesday. He will be the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
Rudolph, 50, spent last season in the same job at Virginia Tech. He is best known for his 2015-21 stint at Wisconsin, where he was the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator under head coach Paul Chryst. His Badgers tenure produced five first-team All-American linemen, five top-35 finishes in yards per carry and six seasons ranked in the top-45 in sacks allowed per game.
“He has a proven track record of developing elite college football players, many of whom have gone on to also experience great success in the NFL,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said in a statement. “We look forward to Joe having a similar impact in our program.”
Before Wisconsin, Rudolph was the offensive coordinator at Pitt from 2012-14, also working with Chryst. He had a previous stint with the Badgers from 2008-11 as the tight ends coach when Chryst was the offensive coordinator. He spent 2007 as Nebraska’s tight ends coach and began his coaching career as a grad assistant at Ohio State from 2004-06. His Buckeyes tenure overlapped with Freeman’s playing career there.
Rudolph played offensive line at Wisconsin from 1994-94 and spent two seasons in the NFL, first with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and then with the San Francisco 49ers in 1997.
Notre Dame has made three assistant hires this offseason, in addition to elevating tight ends coach Gerad Parker to offensive coordinator to replace Tommy Rees. Quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli, hired to fill the other half of Rees’ old role, was formally announced as part of the staff March 1. The Irish are expected to hire Ole Miss special teams coordinator Marty Biagi to the same position, though that move has not yet been officially announced.
Rees left Notre Dame to become Alabama’s offensive coordinator Feb. 3. Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, who Rudolph is replacing, announced his retirement Feb. 12. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason left for the same job with the Indianapolis Colts March 4.
Notre Dame begins spring practice March 22.
