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Notre Dame fired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder on Sunday after the Fighting Irish's disastrous 1-3 start. Head coach Brian Kelly announced that defensive analyst Greg Hudson will assume VanGorder's responsibilities. VanGorder, 57, was a third-year coordinator.
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The moves came after Notre Dame's shocking 38-35 home loss to Duke on Saturday in South Bend, Ind., with fans chanting during the game for VanGorder to be fired.
"This is a difficult decision," Kelly said in a statement. "I have the utmost respect for Brian as both a person and football coach, but our defense simply isn't where it should be and I believe this change is necessary for the best interest of our program and our student-athletes.
"It's never easy to make a change on your staff, but I'm confident in Greg's ability to lead our defense. As a former player at Notre Dame and an experienced defensive coordinator, he not only understands the expectations necessary to compete at the highest level, but he'll bring a fresh perspective to our sideline, practice field and meeting rooms."
Notre Dame is 1-5 in its last six games dating back to last season and have given up 35 or more points in all five losses.
Hudson is a 25-year coaching veteran who has served as a defensive coordinator at Purdue, East Carolina and Minnesota as well as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Florida State.
Hudson, 49, joined the Irish coaching staff as a defensive analyst in June. He is a Notre Dame graduate in 1990 and former Irish graduate assistant in 1993.
"Obviously, this is a difficult day for our coaching staff, but I'm excited and honored about the opportunity that Coach Kelly has afforded me," Hudson said in a school release. "We've got to improve on defense, without a doubt, and I'm confident that we will. We have great student-athletes and a tremendous defensive coaching staff. I can't wait to get started with our group."
Notre Dame plays against Syracuse (2-2) in East Rutherford, N.J., on Saturday.
