Notre Dame to hire Alabama analyst, former Big Ten standout LB as grad assistant
Marcus Freeman lost one former Big Ten standout linebacker from his Notre Dame coaching staff this offseason. He’s filling the vacancy with another.
Freeman and the Irish are expected to hire Alabama defensive analyst Max Bullough, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. Bullough is replacing James Laurinaitis as a defensive graduate assistant who works with the linebackers. Laurinaitis, a three-time All-American and Freeman’s Ohio State teammate from 2005-08, left in January to take a similar role on the Buckeyes’ staff after one season at Notre Dame.
Bullough, 31, has a prior tie to Freeman as well. Freeman gave him a graduate assistant spot on Cincinnati’s staff in 2019 when he was the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator. That was Bullough’s first coaching job after ending his five-year NFL career. He played for the Houston Texans (2014-16) and spent part of the 2018 offseason with the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in 30 career games (four starts) and made 56 tackles.
Bullough is best known for his time as a Michigan State linebacker from 2010-13, though. He was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection at Michigan State and a captain his final two years. He was a third-team Associated Press All-American as a senior in 2013. He ended his Spartans career with 299 tackles (30.5 for loss) in 53 games. He was a three-year starter and played against Notre Dame in each of his four college seasons.
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Alabama hired Bullough as a grad assistant after one season at Cincinnati. He held that title from 2020-22 and won a national championship in 2020. He was elevated to defensive analyst after the 2022 season.
If Bullough assumes Laurinaitis’ duties as expected, he will be a prominent voice in teaching the linebackers and active in recruiting. Freeman credited Laurinaitis for helping Notre Dame’s younger linebackers this season, especially freshman and former five-star prospect Jaylen Sneed.
Laurinaitis’ year at Notre Dame was his first season in coaching. He spent eight seasons in the NFL from 2009-16 and several years in sports media before Freeman opened the coaching-world door for him last January. He left Jan. 27 to return to Ohio State.
“It was tough, because Marcus and I go back to freshman year, in each other’s weddings and the whole deal,” Laurinaitis told Ohio State reporters earlier this month. “Thankfully, Marcus was great about it. He basically said if that’s where you want to be, if that’s where your family wants to be, then go back home.”
