Notre Dame Football Assistants Have Bright Futures

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Brian Kelly of Notre Dame Fighting Irish talks to an assistant coach in the third quarter of a game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 01: Ervin Philips #3 of the Syracuse Orange carries the ball as Te’von Coney #4 and Cole Luke #36 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish make the tackle at MetLife Stadium on October 1, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Clark Lea (Defensive Coordinator)

Perhaps the one on this list Notre Dame fans are most excited about. Lea is a first-time defensive coordinator in 2018, therefore, caution is advised. However, ask people around Notre Dame what they think of Coach Lea and you won’t hear a bad word come out of their mouth.

Lea is the opposite of Elston when looking at this list. It would have been easy for Kelly to hand the reigns to Elston, but he made the “tough” decision and hired Lea as his defensive coordinator after only one season with him.

Lea is fiery in his own way and as some people would put it, he has “the chops” to become a successful head coach someday — perhaps even be at Notre Dame…

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