It appears that Notre Dame is finally on the verge of filling out its coaching staff.
On Wednesday morning, Iowa State confirmed former Cyclone secondary coach Bobby Elliott was leaving to join the Irish staff. Elliott has spent the last two seasons in Ames, Iowa and has deep ties to the current Notre Dame coaching staff.
With former Tennessee line coach Harry Hiestand apparently ready to take over the offensive line, the hiring of Elliott would put Notre Dame on pace to have a complete coaching staff for the first time since Charley Molnar, Ed Warinner, and Tim Hinton departed in December.
Scott Booker was hired in late December, Kelly’s first coaching hire of the offseason.
While Elliott is not an in-house hire he is a well-known commodity when it comes to the Notre Dame coaching staff.
Elliott was the secondary coach for Hall of Fame coach Hayden Fry at the University of Iowa from 1987 to 1995. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1996 and served that role until 1998 when Fry retired. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco was a standout linebacker at Iowa from 1992 to 1995 while Elliott was on the staff. Co-defensive coordinator Kerry Cooks was a safety at Iowa from 1994 to 1997 and was coached directly by Elliott.
During the 2000 and 2001 seasons Elliott served as the associate head coach, defensive backs coach, and special teams coordinator at Iowa State under Dan McCarney. During the 2000 season Elliott worked with current Notre Dame wide receivers coach Tony Alford, who was then the running backs coach for McCarney at Iowa State.
With three current coaches on the staff having history with Elliott it is obvious that Elliott came highly recommended.
Fry is not the only legendary coach Elliott has worked for during his 33-year coaching career.
After his second stint at Iowa State, Elliott was hired in 2002 as the defensive coordinator at Kansas State under Bill Snyder. Kansas State went 22-6 during Elliott’s first two seasons in Manhattan. In 2002 the Wildcats finished No. 1 nationally in scoring defense, No. 2 nationally in total defense, No. 2 nationally in run defense, and No. 14 nationally in interceptions.
In 2003 the Wildcats pounded Oklahoma 35-7 to win the Big 12 championship en route to the Fiesta Bowl. His 2003 Kansas State defense finished No. 6 nationally in total defense, No. 7 nationally in pass defense, No. 8 nationally in scoring defense, and No. 10 nationally in interceptions.
When Snyder retired at Kansas State after the 2005 season Elliott went on to become the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and inside linebackers coach at San Diego State. In 2009 he worked in the San Diego State athletics department before returning to Ames, Iowa for his third stint with the Cyclones.
Elliott is an experienced coach with a strong resume and comes from a football family. He is the son of Chalmers “Bump” Elliott, who served as Michigan’s head football coach from 1959 to 1968. Bump Elliott also served as Iowa’s athletic director from 1970 to 1991.
Bobby Elliott has been coaching for 33 years and spent 11 seasons as a defensive coordinator. Elliott spent all but four of those seasons on the defensive side of the football, most of which was as a secondary coach.
He has a reputation as a top notch teacher of the game, as a coach with high character, and Elliott is also known as an outstanding recruiter with strong ties in the Midwest and West Coast.
Elliott, 58, graduated from the University of Iowa in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in History. He was a two-time Academic All-American in 1974 and 1975. In 1976 he was a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship. As a football player Elliott was a three-time letter winner as a defensive back.
ELLIOTT FILE:
Birthdate: May 6, 1953 (Age: 58)
Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa
Alma Mater: University of Iowa, 1976 (B.A., History – Rhodes Scholar candidate in 1976)
Family: Wife, Joey and children, Grant and Jessica
COACHING RESUME:
2010-2011 – Iowa State (Secondary, Recruiting Coordinator)
2006-2008 – San Diego State (Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Inside Linebackers)
2002-2005 – Kansas State (Defensive Coordinator)
2000-2001 – Iowa State (Associate Head Coach, Secondary, Special Teams Coordinator)
1998 – Iowa (Assistant Head Coach)
1996-1998 – Iowa (Defensive Coordinator)
1987-1995 – Iowa (Secondary)
1983-1986 – North Carolina (Wide Receivers, Tight Ends)
1981-1982 – Iowa State (Secondary)
1980 – Ball State (Defensive Coordinator)
1978-1979 – Ball State (Secondary)
1977 – Kent State (Secondary)
1976 – Iowa (Graduate Assistant)
