SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has hired former Washington Redskins quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur to hold the same position for the Fighting Irish.
LaFleur was fired, along with most of the Redskins staff, after a 3-13 season. He was an offensive assistant under Kelly at Central Michigan in 2004 and 2005.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to once again work with Coach Kelly - who I believe is the best head coach in the country,” LaFleur said. “I’m extremely honored to be a member of such an outstanding coaching staff and join the premier program in college football. The history and tradition at this university is unmatched. I can’t begin to describe my excitement to get started.”
LaFleur was an offensive assistant for the Houston Texans before taking the job with the Redskins, where he helped tutor Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins. In 2012, Griffin became the first Redskins rookie quarterback selected to the Pro Bowl, led Washington to its first NFC East title in 13 years and set rookie records for passer rating (102.4), rushing yards by a quarterback (815) and lowest percentage of passes had intercepted (1.3).
Notre Dame will have quarterback Everett Golson back from a semester-long suspension for academic impropriety. Golson helped the Irish go 12-0 during the regular season in 2012, regain the No. 1 ranking for the first time in nearly two decades and get to the title game against Alabama. Freshman Malik Zaire, who didn’t play last season, is expected to compete with Golson for the starting job.
“My respect for Matt goes back to his time as an outstanding quarterback at Saginaw Valley State,” Kelly said of LaFleur. “He was an incredible competitor and displayed all the characteristics a coach would want in his signal callers.”
Notre Dame announced the hire Friday.
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