Tenuta heading to Notre Dame
Former Tech defensive coordinator joining Irish staff
By MIKE KNOBLER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/31/08
Former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will become Notre Dame's assistant head coach for defense, the Irish announced Thursday.
Tenuta succeeds Notre Dame secondary coach and former Tech head coach Bill Lewis effective Feb. 18. Lewis is retiring from coaching because he needs to have both his hips surgically replaced. Corwin Brown remains the team's defensive coordinator.
"I love coaching defense, and Corwin [37] is a very bright young coach who has a bright future ahead of him," Tenuta said in a statement released by Notre Dame. "He's a great guy who I'm looking forward to working closely with daily. My main goal is to do whatever I can to help the defense become the best in the country and help return Notre Dame to where it belongs."
The Irish were 3-9 last season and lost to both Tech and Navy, which was coached by new Tech coach Paul Johnson.
"Early in December, I learned that Bill Lewis needed to have both his hips replaced and that he would have a four month recovery," Irish coach Charlie Weis said in a statement. "He said there was a chance he may need to leave the coaching staff and that I should prepare a list of replacement names should this come to fruition.
"I spent time with Corwin Brown in January discussing possible replacements for Bill in case this situation arose. Corwin and I talked to a few candidates and agreed that Jon was the best person for the job. Corwin and Jon had numerous conversations on how they would work together, and they both agreed this would be a great fit. ... Jonšs track record speaks for itself. He is a coach with an immense amount of defensive knowledge and will undoubtedly help our program."
Tenuta, 50, was defensive coordinator in all six of Chan Gailey's seasons at Tech. Tenuta served as interim coach in Tech's Humanitarian Bowl loss to Fresno State on Dec. 31.
He is famous for his aggressive, zone blitzing schemes. Last season's Yellow Jackets ranked 20th in the nation in rushing defense and total defense and 21st in scoring defense. Tenuta's last four teams at Tech ranked among the nation's top 30 in all three of those categories.
Lewis, who was 11-19 as Tech's head coach from 1992-94, will remain at Notre Dame as manager of athletic community relations.
Tenuta's new role means at least seven members of the 2007 Yellow Jackets staff have found coaching jobs. Gailey has become the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator and was joined on the Chiefs' staff by two former Tech assistants, running backs coach Curtis Modkins and offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris. Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary and defensive line coach Giff Smith were retained on Paul Johnson's staff, as was Charles Kelly, who moved from specials team coach to cornerbacks coach.