Both the Chicago Tribune and Irish Illustrated are reporting that Bryant Young is joining the Akron coaching staff as defensive line coach and turning down the offer to stay at Notre Dame as a defensive graduate assistant. Young would join Akron coach Rob Ianello’s coaching staff that is filled with former Irish coaches.
Most will consider this a big loss for the Irish, as Notre Dame loses a NFL Pro Bowler and former standout Irish football player that was apprenticing on staff in a position usually filled by unknown coaches trying to break into the industry. But for Kelly, it would’ve been very difficult to offer Young the job as full-time defensive line coach sight unseen, especially after watching tape on last season’s defensive performance. If the Irish defense is going to make the leap it needs, Kelly needs to be 100 percent confident with the staff he’s assembling, and it would’ve been a pretty large risk signing Young on reputation alone.
Young taking the job in Akron means that he’s likely into the coaching profession for the long haul, and realizes that a job as a full-time position coach, even at a MAC school like Akron, is a step up the ladder from a GA position at Notre Dame.
While none of us know for sure what kind of guy Young was as a coach, this certainly can be perceived as a loss, and a great sign for Ianello’s Akron staff. Best of luck to BY and his family.