Notre Dame Officially Hires John McNulty as Tight Ends Coach

Notre Dame officially announced John McNulty as its next tight ends coach along with Mike Mickens as cornerback coach.

“John and Mike bring a wealth of experience to our football program as players, coaches and educators,” Kelly said in a statement announcing the hires of both McNulty and cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens.

“John’s decades of experience at the college and pro level will add to our offensive staff.”

McNulty embarks on his 30th season in football since beginning as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 1991. After a playing career as a walk-on safety at Penn State, McNulty has spent his entire career on the offensive side of the football with collegiate stops including Rutgers, UConn and Penn State, as well as NFL jobs in Jacksonville, Dallas, Arizona, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and San Diego/Los Angeles.

Having worked for legendary coaches including Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin, McNulty has served as coach for a slew of players including Larry Fitzgerald, Marcus Mariota and Kenny Britt.

“My family and I are honored and thrilled to join the great tradition and pursuit of academic and athletic excellence that is the mission here at Notre Dame,” McNulty said in the release.

“Coach Kelly has made it clear about his vision for this program to continue to evolve and be successful on and off the field. That vision has been successful everywhere Coach Kelly has been and I’m excited to join his staff as we continue that standard of excellence at Notre Dame.”

John McNulty Bio

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Walk-on safety at Penn State, was a part of two bowl teams for the Nittany Lions Began coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan Spent six seasons in the NFL as an assistant, including stints working for Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

First season at Notre Dame in 2020, coaching the Irish tight ends Spent the 2019 season as an analyst at his alma mater, helping Penn State to a Cotton Bowl victory over Memphis Served two stints at Rutgers (2004-08, 2018), including three seasons as offensive coordinator Led one of the most prolific offenses in Rutgers history in 2007, as the Scarlet Knights became the first team in FBS history with a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teal), 2,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood)

That season, the Scarlet Knights set school records for scoring, first downs and total offense Britt and Underwood were the first teammates in BIG EAST history with 1,000 receiving yards in the same season Rutgers went to four bowls in five years during his first stint in New Jersey, including three straight bowl victories. 

Was the tight ends coach for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers for two seasons Coached receivers for the Arizona Cardinals, including All-Pro selection Larry Fitzgerald. 

Mentored QB Mike Glennon to all-rookie honors during the 2013 season in Tampa Bay. 

Spent two seasons as QB coach for the Titans, including Marcus Mariota’s all-rookie campaign which saw the QB tie Peyton Manning’s record for games with at least three TD passes by a rookie (four) Mariota also broke Tennessee franchise rookie records for passing TDs (19), completions (230) and passing yards (2,818). 

DYNAMIC DISCIPLES

WR Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)

Pro Bowl selection all three seasons coached

QB Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans)

Set Titans franchise records for passing TDs, completions and passing yards by a rookie

WR Kenny Britt (Rutgers)

Part of a record-setting offensive attack at Rutgers in 2007 Went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL

TE Antonio Gates (San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers)

Had 83 receptions for 864 yards and 10 TDs in two seasons at the age of 37 playing for McNulty