Scott Booker is out at Notre Dame.
Irish Illustrated’s Tim Prister reported the news Tuesday morning, with the Irish special teams coordinator and tight ends coach relieved of his duties. It was a move that felt a long time coming, especially with special teams flubs happening almost weekly and the tight end position plateauing.
Brian Kelly has not fired assistants in his time at Notre Dame until this year, firing Brian VanGorder midseason and making the move on Booker as the Irish coaching staff heads into a recruiting dead period. Mike Sanford is also departing the staff, expected to be introduced on Wednesday as the head coach at Western Kentucky.
Booker joined Notre Dame’s staff as a coaching intern in 2010 before being elevated to a full-time assistant in 2012. He was viewed as a skilled recruiter, making some impressive inroads in Georgia with a high-energy approach, and landing two top tight end prospects that are preparing to sign in 2017, Cole Kmet and Brock Wright.
If you’re curious, this is what four-star tight end commit Brock Wright had to say about coaching changes at ND and their potential impact. pic.twitter.com/rCUrPMWKHP
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) December 13, 2016