Bryant Young Notre Dame’s Newest GA, Tim Grunhard Next?

While the University has yet to make an official announcement, several sources have indicated that former Notre Dame and San Francisco 49ers great Bryant Young will very likely be joining the Notre Dame coaching staff as a defensive graduate assistant.  Another former Irish great could be joining him on the opposite side of the line as well – Tim Grunhard will be interviewing with Charlie Weis Wednesday for an offensive graudate assistant role as well.

Young, an All American with the Irish and sure fire Hall of Famer with the 49ers, retired from the NFL after the 2007 season and served as an honorary coach for last year’s Blue-Gold game.  Right now it seems as though Young is much more likely to join the staff than Grunhard who is reportedly leaning towards staying with Bishop Miege where he serves as the head coach.

“It’s a great opportunity to go to Notre Dame and coach, but as of right now, with four kids in school, it’s really just too much to pack up and move,” said Grunhard, a starting offensive lineman on the Irish’s 1988 national championship team.

“As of right now, we should have a pretty (darn) good team next year,” Grunhard said. “Unless it’s an unbelievable deal, I’m going to stay at Miege.”

If Grunhard wasn’t at least considering the move, however, he wouldn’t be making the trip so let’s hope Weis can convince him to join the staff.

Both hires would be major home runs for the staff at positions where you very rarely have “home run hires.”  Both Young and Grunhard were Irish legends who went on to have very successful NFL careers and in Young’s case, a Hall of Fame career.  From a recruiting standpoint these two would give the Irish staff a very nice additions for on campus visits (graduate assistants are not able to make in home visits).

We’ll have more when/if either hire becomes official.