Jeff Quinn / Notre Dame Offensive Line Coach

Jeff Quinn joined the Notre Dame coaching staff as an offensive analyst in 2015, but has a coaching resume that dates back more than three decades. Born on September 26, 1962, he graduated from Elmhurst College in 1984. During his time at the school, he competed in both football and wrestling, with his exploits later earning him a spot in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Brian Kelly Connection

While Brian Kelly hired him in 2015 as an offensive analyst, the connection between the two dates back almost to the start of Quinn’s entry into the coaching ranks. The two first came together in 1989, when both served as assistants at Grand Valley State. Kelly was elevated to head coach, with the two enjoying plenty of success over the next 13 seasons.

After Grand Valley won their second consecutive Division II national title, Kelly was named head coach at Central Michigan, bringing Quinn along. In their third year, Central Michigan won the MAC and won the Motor City Bowl. Quinn led the Chippewas to that victory since Kelly left to take the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati.

Jeff Quinn soon followed Kelly to the Queen City, where the duo helped lead the Bearcats to 33 wins over the next three seasons. During the latter two campaigns, Cincinnati competed in both the Orange and Sugar Bowls. In the case of that Sugar Bowl clash against defending national champion Florida, Quinn once again took the helm after Kelly accepted the Notre Dame job.

Taking the Reins at Buffalo

Instead of coming to the Golden Dome to join Kelly in 2010, Quinn accepted the head coaching job at the University of Buffalo. Three painful years of rebuilding resulted in a 2013 season in which the Bulls competed in a bowl game, with future NFL linebacker Khalil Mack the key member of that squad. However, Quinn was dismissed after just seven games the following year.

A Reunion with Brian Kelly

In March 2015, Quinn was hired by Kelly and served in an off-the-field capacity during that first season as an offensive analyst. He then became Notre Dame’s assistant strength and conditioning coach, staying in that role for both 2016 and 2017.

On January 23, 2018, Quinn was named the Irish offensive line coach, replacing Harry Heistand. In his first season, he had the difficult task of replacing a pair of first-round NFL draft picks, then had that problem magnified during the year when Alex Bars was lost for the season. Yet despite those handicaps and putting the ball up 67 times more than the year before, Notre Dame allowed three fewer sacks.

Photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire