Source: Utah’s Andy Ludwig leading candidate for Notre Dame OC

Utahoffensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Andy Ludwig is the main candidate for a similar place at Notre Dame, a supply informed ESPN on Friday.

Ludwig arrived on campus Friday afternoon as a part of a weeklong nationwide search to switch former coordinator Tommy Rees, who was employed at Alabama.

Ludwig, who spent the previous 4 seasons main Utah’s offense, impressed coach Marcus Freeman on a Zoom interview this week earlier than flying to South Bend, Indiana, on Friday, in response to sources.

At 58, Ludwig’s a long time of teaching expertise have been a significant factor within the interview course of, particularly as Freeman, 37, enters his second season as a head coach. Ludwig hasn’t been provided the job or accepted it but, however a number of sources have indicated it is a sturdy risk.

Notre Dame’s search started final Friday, when the varsity realized Rees was becoming a member of Nick Saban’s workers. Sources stated Freeman is in search of a confirmed playcaller who can proceed to run a pro-style offense and match seamlessly with the present workers.

With Freeman trying to enhance upon final 12 months’s 9-4 end and construct workers stability, there is no such thing as a want to rent an offensive coordinator who would need to make modifications to the present place coaches.

In his first four-year stint at Utah (2005-08), Ludwig served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in the course of the Utes’ undefeated 2008 season that included a 13-0 file and Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. Previous to that, Ludwig spent three seasons in the identical function at Oregon(2002-04). He additionally has expertise as Vanderbilt’s offensive coordinator (2015-18), and has had stints at Wisconsin, San Diego StateandCal.

Whereas the Irish need to maintain their offensive philosophy the identical and proceed to focus on their tight ends, sources stated Freeman is in search of a coordinator who can even add creativity to the formations. With spring practices a couple of month away, there’s an emphasis on discovering a candidate who can shortly set up a system and train it to the workers and gamers.

If he takes the job, Ludwig must navigate a quarterback competitors after final 12 months’s starter,Drew Pyne, transferred to Arizona State. That opened the door for sophomoreTyler Buchnerto compete with veteran Wake ForesttransferSam Hartman.

Whereas many outdoors this system consider Hartman will finally earn the beginning job, the Notre Dame workers is approaching it as a contemporary begin this spring between Hartman and Buchner. Hartman, who threw for almost 13,000 yards with 110 touchdowns in 5 seasons at Wake Forest, is much extra skilled, however the brand new offensive coordinator can be anticipated to judge the quarterbacks with none preconceived bias, in addition to put together them in a short while.

In response to sources, Freeman additionally severely thought-about Kansas Stateoffensive coordinator Collin Klein, however the Wildcats’ 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist finally determined it was too tough to go away his alma mater and its gamers behind.