LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has accepted a move to the same position at Notre Dame, according to a report from InsideNDSports.
Denbrock was a finalist for the Broyles Award this season as the nation’s top assistant coach after leading LSU to the nation’s top offense by yards gained and points scored per game.
LSU’s offense took a big step in his second year as the offensive coordinator, being the only team to rank in the top 10 nationally in both passing and rushing yards.
The program announced Friday that quarterback coach Joe Sloan and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton would serve as co-offensive coordinators for the Tigers’ upcoming bowl game.
Notre Dame is familiar territory for Denbrock, who is a native of the region and coached there from 2002-2004 and again from 2010-2016, with the latter tenure coming under now-LSU head coach Brian Kelly.
The move reunites Denbrock with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, who coached with him at Cincinnati from 2017-2020.
Denbrock had verbally agreed to a three-year extension to remain with LSU on Dec. 6, but the deal was never finalized.
Kelly and Denbrock’s relationship has a long history, with the two first overlapping at Kelly’s first head coaching spot at Grand Valley State, then at Notre Dame and finally at LSU.
Denbrock’s departure is another blow to the offense that already stands to lose Heisman quarterback Jayden Daniels and, potentially, star wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. to the NFL.
It’s unclear what route Kelly will go to replace Denbrock. There are options within the program such as Sloan and Hankton, but the team may also make an outside hire.
The new hire will inherit an offense with plenty of talent, including potential starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and one of the nation’s best offensive lines that figures to return most of last year’s starters.
Notre Dame had an opening at the offensive coordinator after Gerald Parker accepted the head coach position at Troy.
Notre Dame beat writer Eric Hansen was first with the news of Denbrock’s move.
