Notre Dame offensive coordinator target Andy Ludwig to remain at Utah
Andy Ludwig has left his home state and a successful run as Utah offensive coordinator once before. Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame could not pry him away a second time.
Ludwig will remain Utah’s offensive coordinator after Notre Dame pursued him for the same position, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel Monday. A buyout proved to be an obstacle in Notre Dame hiring him, per Thamel. That buyout is a reported $2.8 million, per The Salt Lake Tribune. Ludwig’s base salary last year was $1.25 million, according to the USA Today coaching salary database.
Ludwig, Utah’s offensive coordinator since 2019, arrived on Notre Dame’s campus Friday evening for an in-person interview and was spotted at the Irish hockey game with Freeman that night. He returned to Utah about 24 hours later. He would have replaced the 30-year-old Tommy Rees, who left Feb. 2 to take the same job at Alabama after three seasons with Notre Dame.
Whoever Notre Dame hires as offensive coordinator will have a hard time matching Ludwig’s experience. Ludwig, 58, has been a college coach for nearly as many years (36) as Freeman has been alive (37). The Ogden, Utah, native has held a coordinator title for an FBS team every year since 1998. Prior to Utah, he was the offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt (2015-18), Wisconsin (2013-14), San Diego State (2011-12), California (2009-10), a prior stint with the Utes (2005-08), Oregon (2002-04) and Fresno State (1998-2001).
Ludwig’s first coordinator job was at the FCS level with Cal Poly in 1997. He also held the quarterbacks coach title at Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and Cal.
The Utes’ offense the last few years is among Ludwig’s best work in his long career. They have posted top-25 finishes in yards per play each of the last three seasons not shortened by COVID-19. They ranked No. 29 this past season. They have won the last two Pac-12 championships and are 34-13 over the last four years, including a 10-4 record in 2022. They defeated then-No. 4 USC in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game, lost to No. 11 Penn State in the Rose Bowl and were No. 10 in the final Associated Press poll.
Ludwig also has a track record of quarterback success in his offenses. Utah’s Cameron Rising has completed 64 percent of his passes and thrown 46 touchdowns since 2021. Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur threw 50 touchdowns over his final two seasons and ended his career as the Commodores’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Ludwig coached 2012 sixth-round pick Ryan Lindley in Lindley’s final season at San Diego State. He was 2002 No. 1 overall pick David Carr’s offensive coordinator at Fresno State.
Notre Dame also had serious discussions with Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein about the job and brought him to campus for an in-person interview Feb. 8, according to multiple reports. Klein, though, is remaining at Kansas State for the 2023 season. He and Ludwig are believed to be the only two candidates to do in-person interviews with Freeman.
