10 former Notre Dame coaches contribute significantly to Vanderbilt’s upset over Alabama

Vanderbilt’s 40-35 victory over No. 1 Alabama, a week after the Crimson Tide pulled off one of the biggest wins of the year against Georgia, will go down as an all-time upset.

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea returned to his alma mater in 2021 after spending the past three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator under Brian Kelly. Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff in two of those three seasons. It’s clear that Lea learned a lot about coaching during her time under Kelly at Notre Dame, but also about recruiting a good staff.

When Vanderbilt beat Alabama on Saturday, Lea was one of 10 Vanderbilt football staffers with a connection to Notre Dame. Here they are all.

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt head coach

Clark Lea has been Vanderbilt’s head football coach since the 2021 season and previously served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator from 2018-2020. Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff in two of those three seasons.

Nick Lezynski, Vanderbilt defensive run game coordinator

Lezynski previously served on Notre Dame’s defensive coaching staff for four years. Three of those were with Lea before she worked under defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman in 2021.

Larry Black, Vanderbilt defensive line coach

Black spent 2018 as a graduate assistant on Notre Dame’s staff under Lea.

Jimmy Thompson, Vanderbilt coach of the Stars

Star is what Vanderbilt’s plan calls a hybrid safety-linebacker position and is coached by Thompson, a former Notre Dame player who served as an intern on the Fighting Irish’s coaching staff.

Josh Adams, Vanderbilt offensive quality control coach

Josh Adams is in his second year as an offensive quality control assistant for Vanderbilt. Adams was a star running back at Notre Dame, becoming the fastest Fighting Irish back to ever reach 1,000 career rushing yards before making a Heisman Trophy run over the first two-thirds of the 2017 season.

Arion Shinaver, Vanderbilt assistant safeties coach

Shinaver played football at Notre Dame from 2016 to 2019 and appeared in seven games.

Robert Stiner, Vanderbilt director of football sport performance

From 2018 to 2020, Stiner served as Notre Dame’s assistant director of football strength conditioning under Matt Balis.

Ian Bures, associate director of football athletic performance at Vanderbilt

Bures was a member of Notre Dame’s strength and conditioning staff under Robert Stiner during Clark Lea’s time as defensive coordinator.

Molly Hart, Vanderbilt assistant head coach, operations coordinator

Hart is a former Notre Dame football student equipment manager and student at St. Mary’s College.

Nik Valdiserri, Vanderbilt director of player personnel

Valdiserri spent three seasons at Notre Dame from 2017 to 2019, where he worked in recruiting, football operations and player personnel.

Former Notre Dame assistant coach scores upset of the year in SEC