Notre Dame Hires Memphis’ Chip Long As Offensive Coordinator


Notre Dame has found its new offensive coordinator, hiring Chip Long away from Memphis. Long replaces Mike Sanford, who left for the heading coaching job at Western Kentucky.


Chip Long is considered one of the brightest young offensive minds in college football, and now he’ll be calling plays for Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish lured Long away from Memphis after only one season as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. Reports say that Long has received a three-year contract to serve in the same position at Notre Dame.

Memphis finished fourth in the American Athletic Conference in total offense with 463.7 yards per game despite losing quarterback Paxton Lynch, who was selected in the first round of last year’s NFL draft. The Tigers also ranked third in the conference with an average of 38.8 points per game with Long calling plays.

Long is only 33 years old and reportedly was on the radar of many Power 5 programs looking for an offensive coordinator. He’s a disciple of Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, also serving as Norvell’s tight ends coach at Arizona State (where Norvell was OC) before joining him with the Tigers. Long also has coached at Illinois, Arkansas and Louisville.

Long has a reputation as an excellent recruiter, which will help a Notre Dame program that recruits nationally and is coming off a dismal 4-8 season under coach Brian Kelly.

Offense wasn’t much of an issue for the Fighting Irish this past season, though. They averaged 417.6 yards and over six per play under the guidance of Mike Sanford, who accepted the head coaching job at Western Kentucky after Jeff Brohm left for Purdue.

Much like his first year at Memphis, Long will be working with a new starting quarterback. DeShone Kizer is expected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, and Malik Zaire has announced his intentions to transfer.

MORE: Brian Kelly Leaving Would Be A Favor To Notre Dame