Bold claim: Notre Dame’s 2026 coaching overhaul signals a clear commitment to a new era, with a slate of fresh voices and reorganized roles designed to elevate the program just weeks before spring practice begins. But here’s where it gets controversial: several hires come from outside the typical Notre Dame pipeline, prompting discussion about fit, continuity, and how quickly a new staff can gel. Let’s unpack what changed, who joined, and what it could mean for the Fighting Irish in 2026.
New hires and roles
- Brian Jean-Mary: Linebackers coach and run game coordinator
- Aaron Henry: Co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach
- Charlie Partridge: Defensive line coach
- JeVaughn Codlin: Safeties coach
- Shaun Shivers: Assistant wide receivers coach (analyst)
- Chase Jones: Defensive analyst
- Tylor Henry: Strength and conditioning staff
- Kerry Sanders: Director of player personnel
- DJ Bryant: Director of recruiting personnel
Staff updates and context
- Partridge and Henry have already spoken with Notre Dame media in South Bend. Jean-Mary is scheduled to speak this Wednesday. The remaining new hires aren’t speaking to the media because they aren’t part of the primary on-field staff. That doesn’t diminish their importance; head coach Marcus Freeman and the trusted assistants conducted thorough evaluations to ensure every hire contributes to a confident 2026 campaign.
- Codlin previously spent 2025 with Notre Dame, then joined North Texas in December before returning to South Bend last month. Shivers also moved from Florida State to join the Irish around the same time. Jones arrived from Wake Forest in the same period.
- Sanders and Bryant were added earlier than Codlin, Shivers, and Jones. Blue & Gold’s Mike Singer highlighted their onboarding in January.
- As for Henry, his last role was assistant sports performance director at Tennessee. A University of Alberta graduate, he earned a Master of Science in exercise science from the University of West Florida. He has held stints at TCU, Northern Arizona, and Florida Atlantic, but spent 2022–2026 with the Volunteers before joining Notre Dame.
Additional staff movements
- Tre Reader: Defensive analyst
- Richard Guarascio: Senior Associate Director of Football Performance
- Tony Fusco: Associate Director of Football Performance
- Miles Axtell: Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Jourdan Blake: Director of Recruiting Advancement
- Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa: Director of Player Development
Notes on the broader picture
- Reader and Tagovailoa-Amosa are alumni who previously worked with the program; Reader’s role has been elevated, and Tagovailoa-Amosa now holds Blake’s former title of Director of Player Development, with Bryant taking over the Director of Recruiting Personnel duties.
- Guarascio joined last month, and Fusco has been with Notre Dame in various capacities since 2021. Axtell is a Mississippi State alum who recently joined the Irish, bringing another perspective to the strength and conditioning staff.
Bottom line
This 2026 staff reshuffle aims to blend fresh expertise with Notre Dame’s established culture. The question many fans will be asking: can this mix deliver the on-field consistency and development the program seeks? What do you think about bringing in several coaches from outside the traditional Notre Dame ecosystem—could that broaden the program’s reach, or does it risk disrupting the familiar tempo? Share your take in the comments.
