OC Mike Denbrock Headed Back to Notre Dame
ISD has learned Mike Denbrock accepted the Notre Dame offensive coordinator position and will return to South Bend to work under Marcus Freeman after spending the last two season at LSU.
Eric Hansen of InsideNDSports was the first to report.
This will be Denbrock’s third stop at Notre Dame as he coached offensive tackles and tight ends from 2002-2004 before returning in 2010-2016 where he held several roles, including offensive coordinator in 2014.
Following the 2016 season, Denbrock headed to Cincinnati where he served as the offensive coordinator from 2017-2021. The Bearcats won 48 games, including making the College Football Playoff in 2021.
The highlight for the Cincinnati offense was the development and production of quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was a two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year. In four seasons, Ridder totaled over 12,000 yards of offense and 116 touchdowns while winning 44 games before being a third round NFL Draft pick in 2022.
Denbrock was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award with the Bearcats set program records for touchdowns (70), points scored (516) and led the ACC in points at 36.9 ppg.
The Grand Valley State alum went to LSU with Brian Kelly in 2021 and the Tigers quickly turned into one of the most explosive offenses in the country. In 2023, LSU was the nation’s top-scoring offense behind Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels leading the Tigers offense to 46.4 points per game.
If one thought Ridder’s stats were eye-popping, Daniels 2023 season might blow some minds. Daniels completed 72.2 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions while also rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.
In two seasons with Denbrock, Daniels threw for 6,725 yards and 57 touchdowns in addition to his 2,019 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground.
LSU also had two 1,000-yard receivers in 2023. Malik Nabers might have been robbed by Marvin Harrison Jr. for the Biletnikoff Award as he recorded 86 catches for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns. And not to be outdone, Brian Thomas Jr. made 60 receptions for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Former Notre Dame running back Logan Diggs also rushed for 652 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry in nine games.
THE DENBROCK FILE
1986–1987: Grand Valley State (GA)
1988–1989: Michigan State (GA)
1990–1991: Illinois State (OT/TE)
1992–1995: Grand Valley State (OC/QB/WR)
1996–1998: Grand Valley State (DC/LB)
1999–2000: Buffalo Destroyers (AHC/DC/OL/DL)
2001: Stanford (OT/TE)
2002–2004: Notre Dame (OT/TE)
2005–200: 8Washington (OL)
2009: Indiana State (AHC/ST/LB)
2010–2011: Notre Dame (TE)
2012–2013: Notre Dame (WR)
2014: Notre Dame (OC/WR)
2015–2016: Notre Dame (AHC/WR)
2017: Cincinnati (OC/QB)
2018–2021: Cincinnati (OC/TE)
2022–2023: LSU (OC/TE)
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