Bob Diaco named assistant head coach, Chuck Martin named offensive coordinator, Kerry Cooks named co-defensive coordinator, Scott Booker promoted to full-time assistant and contract extensions for assistant coaches announced
Sporting retro uniforms, the two winningest programs in NCAA FBS history will square off in the first-ever night game at Michigan Stadium (8 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Notre Dame tight end group appears at the MSU Kickoff Luncheon - group coach Mike Denbrock along with senior Mike Ragone and junior Tyler Eifert.
COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Denbrock moved to coach the outside wide receivers and served as passing game coordinator in 2012.
• Critical in the development of DaVaris Daniels and the much-improved TJ Jones. Both were asked to fill the void created by the graduation of standout Michael Floyd.
• Jones tied for the team lead in receptions (50) and second in receiving yards (649). His four touchdown catches were also tied with Tyler Eifert for tops on the Irish. Thirty-eight of his 50 grabs resulted in either touchdowns or first downs - the most of any player on Notre Dame.
• Daniels was third on the Irish with 490 receiving yards despite missing the final two games of the regular season. He collected the highest per reception average on the team (15.8) for players with at least 10 catches.
• Earlier in his career he spent a combined eight seasons with head coach Brian Kelly at Grand Valley State where he learned Kelly's offense. Kelly served as the Lakers' head coach and Denbrock was on his coaching staff from 1992-98. From 1992-95, Denbrock served as offensive coordinator for Kelly as well as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach. The two were graduate assistants together at Grand Valley State in 1987.
• Selected one of Tom Lemming's Assistant Coaches of the Year in 2011. Named one of top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com and selected one of top 50 recruiters by 247Sports.com following 2012 signing day.
• Coached junior tight end Tyler Eifert in 2011 to one of the best seasons ever by a Notre Dame tight end. Eifert ranked second on the team with 63 receptions for 803 yards and five TDs.
• A Mackey Award finalist in 2011, Eifert led all FBS tight ends in receptions and receiving yards. He also set Notre Dame single-season records for receptions and receiving yards by a Notre Dame tight end.
• Eifert was selected to the 2011 Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America first team. He became Notre Dame's 185th All-America first-team selection and the first Irish tight end named first-team All-American since Derek Brown in 1991.
• Developed sophomore Alex Welch and freshman Ben Koyack into contributors in 2011 after injuries to senior Mike Ragone and junior Jake Golic ended their seasons.
• Coached 2010 preseason All-American Kyle Rudolph as he collected 28 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns in first six games before a hamstring injury ended his season. Rudolph earned John Mackey Tight End of the Week honors following the Michigan game where he set career highs with eight catches for 164 yards and one touchdown.
• Developed Eifert in Rudolph's absence and turned the sophomore tight end into a reliable receiving option for the Irish. Eifert snagged 27 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns and was named John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week following his performance vs. Army where he caught four passes for 78 yards with one touchdown.
• At Indiana State in 2009, helped turn redshirt freshman linebacker Aaron Archie into an all-conference player in his first season of collegiate football. He was named a second-team performer in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and was a member of the league's all-newcomer team.
• Junior return specialist Darrius Gates earned honorable mention accolades in 2009 from the Missouri Valley Football Conference after leading the league and ranking fifth nationally averaging 27.1 yards per kickoff return.
• Coached offensive line at Washington and in 2007, the Husky line helped running back Louis Rankin become the first 1,000-yard rusher at Washington since 1997. Quarterback Jake Locker also nearly eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in 2007 as he gained 986 yards on the ground. Rankin and Locker ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in rushing yards per game among Pac-10 players.
• Center Juan Garcia earned second-team all-Pacific-10 honors in 2007.
• Denbrock's offensive line paved the way for the Huskies to average 203.1 rushing yards per game in 2007. Washington ranked 18th nationally in rushing and second in the Pac-10 Conference.
• Coached several players at Notre Dame who became NFL Draft selections, including offensive tackles Ryan Harris (2007, third round, Denver), Jim Molinaro (2004, seventh round, Washington), Jordan Black (2003, fifth round, Kansas City) and Brennan Curtin (2003, sixth round, Green Bay) plus tight ends John Carlson (2008, second round, Seattle), Anthony Fasano (2006, second round, Dallas) and Jerome Collins (2005, fifth round, St. Louis).
• Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Denbrock worked in a similar capacity with the offensive tackles and tight ends at Stanford. His line helped lead the way for a Stanford rushing attack which ranked 23rd in the nation, averaging more than 200 yards per game and scoring 27 TDs.
• Developed Kwame Harris into one of the top offensive tackles in the Pac-10 Conference. Harris earned second-team all-Pac-10 honors following 2001 and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 26th pick in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
• Prior to his two years in Buffalo, Denbrock returned to his alma mater, Grand Valley State, where he coached with Kelly.
• Denbrock served as the Lakers' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 1996-98 and his defensive unit ranked among the nation's top 30 in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense each season.
• His 1996 defense led the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference and was 11th nationally in scoring defense while also leading the conference in total defense.
• As the offensive coordinator, Denbrock's squad was first in the MIFC in both total and scoring offense from 1992-94.
• In 1995, his offense ranked eighth in the nation in scoring and 12th in total offense.
• Eight of his players earned first-team All-America honors during his seven years at Grand Valley State.
• Denbrock's first full-time coaching assignment came in 1990-91 as the tackles and tight ends coach at Illinois State.
• He focused on the offensive line as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1989 and helped with the quarterbacks and receivers on the 1988 Spartans squad.
• He broke into coaching as a graduate assistant from 1986-87 at Grand Valley State where he worked with the offensive tackles and tight ends.
DYNAMIC DISCIPLES
TE Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame)
• 2012 Mackey Award Winner
• 2011 first-team All-American; Set Notre Dame record for most receptions and receiving yards in a season by a tight end
TE Kyle Rudolph (Notre Dame), Minnesota Vikings
• 2011 second-round NFL draft pick and first tight end selected
TE John Carlson (Notre Dame) Minnesota Vikings current player
• 2008 second-round NFL draft pick by Seattle
OT Ryan Harris (Notre Dame), Philadelphia Eagles
• 2007 third-round NFL draft pick by Denver
TE Anthony Fasano (Notre Dame), Miami Dolphins
• 2006 second-round NFL draft pick by Dallas
OT Kwame Harris (Stanford)
• 2002 first-round NFL draft pick by San Francisco
