Notre Dame football managing defensive play calling for the Fiesta Bowl

 

Although an official defensive coordinator has not been hired at Notre Dame to succeed Marcus Freeman, Defensive Lineman Coach Mike Elston has been named as the defensive play caller for the Irish in the Fiesta Bowl.

Elston is in his eleventh season with the Notre Dame football team and is looking forward to calling plays on defense for the first time since 2016.

“It's great. I love that opportunity. I did it back in 2016 for 8 games. It's fun to get back into that and be a part of it. Obviously, Coach Freeman has taken on many other duties and roles with being the head football coach that he has not been able to be in the defensive staff room as much as he would like, but we don't make any decision schematically. That would be Earth-shattering without running them by him. Obviously, we want this game plan and this defense to reflect what it has all season, which is his vision,” said Elston.

Cornerbacks Coach Mike Mickens and Safeties Coach Chris O’Leary will collaborate play calling efforts alongside Elston in the Fiesta Bowl.