re: Official Coaching Search Thread: The Search Is Over

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During Chip Long’s two seasons as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, the Irish have put forth their highest-scoring offense in more than a decade, its best rushing offense since the last year of the Lou Holtz era more than two decades ago, and one of its three highest total offenses in the last 20 years.

It didn’t go unnoticed last year when Nick Saban inquired about Long’s availability and it apparently has not been forgotten a year later.

With both Mike Locksley (offensive coordinator) and Dan Enos (quarterbacks) off to Maryland and Miami respectively, Saban found himself in need once again of an offensive coordinator and Long is an attractive candidate.

The Birmingham, Ala. native made his offensive coordinator’s debut in 2016 at Memphis where the Tigers were one of just six FBS teams to rank in the top 20 in passing offense, scoring offense, completion percentage, passing efficiency and first downs.

Long took advantage of one of Notre Dame’s all-time great offensive lines in 2017 by emphasizing the rushing attack and averaging nearly 270 yards per game on the ground.

Without the bulldozing crew up front and with the emergence of Ian Book a quarter of the way through the 2018 season, Long showed his versatility as Book averaged 306 yards passing per game during his eight regular-season starts.

Stretched out of the course of season, that would have been among the nation’s 15 most productive passing attacks.

Saturday, Matt Zenitz of al.com reported that Long, according to sources, was in Tuscaloosa. Two sources told Irish Illustrated that the report of Long’s interest in Alabama was accurate.

The news came amidst confirmation by 247Sports’/Irish Illustrated’s Tom Loy that running backs coach Autry Denson had accepted the head coaching position at FCS Charleston Southern and that Irish defensive line graduate assistant Larry Black had accepted a full-time assistant’s position with Toledo.

Meanwhile, multiple reports confirmed that former USC head coach and former Alabama assistant Steve Sarkisian turned down an opportunity to serve as offensive coordinator under Kliff Kingsbury – the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals – as offensive coordinator.

ESPN reported that Sarkisian turned down the Arizona position to accept the spot on Saban’s Alabama staff.

Sunday morning, a source told Irish Illustrated that Long was “not going to Bama.” Irish Illustrated has not received official confirmation, however, that Long will return to Notre Dame.

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