LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is leaving Brian Kelly’s staff and returning to South Bend to become Notre Dame’s new offensive coordinator, according to a report from Tom Loy of 247Sports.
Denbrock is replacing Gerad Parker, who departed Notre Dame to become the head coach at Troy. It will mark the third coaching stint for Denbrock at Notre Dame, as he previously served on the Fighting Irish staff from 2002 through ’04 and again from ’10-’16 under Kelly.
Denbrock’s return is significant for head coach Marcus Freeman, who needed to nail the offensive coordinator hire amid scrutiny of last year’s unit. Denbrock will be the third Irish offensive coordinator under Freeman, following Parker and Tommy Rees, who’s now the offensive coordinator at Alabama.
As LSU’s offensive coordinator last season, Denbrock led one of the most potent offenses in the FBS. Denbrock’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels, won the Heisman Trophy thanks in large part to the tutelage of the offensive coordinator.
LSU ranked first in the nation among 130 FBS teams in total offense this season, averaging 547.8 yards per game. The Tigers led that category by a wide margin, as Oregon ranked a distant second at 526.6 yards per game.
Kelly initially pursued Rees to become his offensive coordinator at LSU when he left South Bend for Baton Rouge two years ago, but when Rees initially elected to stay at Notre Dame, Kelly pivoted to Denbrock.
Now, after two successful years at LSU, Denbrock returns to familiar territory to lead a Fighting Irish offense that brings in Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard.
