Notre Dame adds ex-UW defensive line coach Hart to staff
Published 2:40 pm Saturday, February 21, 2009
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Randy Hart, defensive line coach at University of Washington for the past 21 seasons, was named defensive line coach at Notre Dame on Saturday.
“We wanted someone that was a high-energy coach that could develop our young defensive line,” head coach Charlie Weis said.
Weis said at a news conference on Feb. 13 that he wanted to hire a veteran defensive line coach who could help groom Bryant Young, a former Irish standout who played 14 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, into a defensive line coach. Young will serve as a graduate assistant next season.
The 60-year-old Hart has 39 years of coaching experience and departed the Huskies after they hired Steve Sarkisian to replace the fired Tyrone Willingham. He also has coached at Ohio State, Purdue and Iowa State. He replaces Jappy Oliver, who left Notre Dame last month.
“I’m excited to come to Notre Dame and be part of such a storied and tradition-rich university,” Hart said.
The hiring of Hart completes Weis’ staff. Weis first offered the job to former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel, who was the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots while Weis was offensive coordinator.
