Clark Lea Named Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator
Notre Dame linebackers coach Clark Lea has been named defensive coordinator after just one season in South Bend.
“I cannot express how grateful I am to Father Jenkins, Jack Swarbrick and Brian Kelly for their confidence in my ability to take on this new role,” said Lea in a statement. “I am indebted to them, and to the student-athletes that I have been blessed to work with over the past year — without their commitment and belief in me, I realize that none of this would be possible. Notre Dame represents everything I want to be a part of in my career as an educator, and I am deeply humbled to be able to continue my work here.”
Four Notre Dame linebackers finished with at least 75 tackles in 2017, which was a first in the history of the Irish program. Te’von Coney led the Irish in tackles with 116 and tackles for loss (13.5). Drue Tranquill finished with 85 tackles from his rover position, while Nyles Morgan Greer Martini finished with 92 and 75 tackles, respectively.
Head coach Brian Kelly felt the progress Lea made with his unit can translate to the entire defense in the coming years.
“Clark has quickly established himself as a rising star in the coaching profession,” said Brian Kelly. “He immediately commands the respect of those around him, whether that be in a meeting room, on a practice field or in a prospective student-athlete’s living room. Clark has demonstrated an ability to motivate, lead, teach and mentor through a positive teaching environment, while also developing the necessary traits of excellence in our players. Clark has an incredible football knowledge, a keen understanding of personnel and a fierce work ethic, which leaves no doubt in my mind that we’ll maintain the defensive standard necessary to win at the highest level.”
Lea arrived at Notre Dame after one year at Wake Forest as the linebackers coach and three seasons at Syracuse in the same role. In 2012, Lea was a finalist for Linebackers Coach of the Year by FootballScoop.com.
The Vanderbilt graduate worked at UCLA as a graduate assistant in 2006 before heading to South Dakota State.
2006 UCLA Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2007 South Dakota State Linebackers
2008 South Dakota State Recruiting Coordinator/Linebackers
2009 UCLA Graduate Assistant (Linebackers)
2010 UCLA Linebackers
2011 UCLA Linebackers
2012 Bowling Green Linebackers
2013 Syracuse Linebackers
2014 Syracuse Linebackers
2015 Syracuse Linebackers
2016 Wake Forest Linebackers
2017 Notre Dame Linebackers
2018 Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers