Offensive coordinator Chip Long and the Notre Dame football program have mutually agreed to part ways, according to a Wednesday Football Scoop article. Rumors emerged Wednesday that he may not be retained as offensive coordinator with news that he would depart coming out that afternoon.
Long played collegiate football as a wide receiver and tight end at North Alabama from 2002 to 2005, then became a graduate assistant at Louisville and Arkansas for two years a piece. Aside from when he worked with quarterbacks and wide receivers at Louisville from 2006 to 2007, Long has worked with tight ends at every destination, beginning with his first coaching position as a tight ends coach at Illinois in 2010.
As his career progressed, Long spent time as the recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach at Arizona State from 2012 to 2015, then gained the first offensive coordinator position of his career at Memphis. After spending one season with the Tigers, Kelly brought Long in along with several other new hirers following a mass exodus of staff during the 4-8 Irish campaign in 2016.
Long reportedly missed a recruiting trip to see 2021 all-purpose back Will Shipley, a four-star recruit according to Rivals, last Friday and has not followed through on a plan to be out recruiting this week. His tenure with the Irish could be deemed a successful one, having averaged 34.2 points per game in 2017, 31.4 in 2018 and a Kelly era-record 37.1 points per game this season, good for 13th best in the FBS. The Irish have gone 32-6 in his three years at the helm of the offense.
The Irish will look to fill Long’s shoes with a talented offensive recruiting class coming in, including five-star wide receiver Jordan Johnson, four-star running back Chris Tyree and four-star tight ends Michael Mayer and Kevin Bauman. He has reportedly not taken another job.
