Deland McCullough Is Promoted To Associate Head Coach

Notre Dame running backs coach is also now the team's associate head coach
Deland McCullough Is Promoted To Associate Head Coach
Deland McCullough Is Promoted To Associate Head Coach /

Notre Dame has had a very busy offseason, and one of the moves has been to promote running backs coach Deland McCullough to the position of Associate Head Coach. This will be on top of his duties as the team's running backs coach. This is the second straight year that McCullough has been promoted after he was promoted to run game coordinator a season ago.

McCullough has been impactful in a very short period of time at Notre Dame as both a coach and recruiter. Notre Dame rushed for just 144.0 yards per game the season prior to his arrival, and the Irish needed to replace standout running back Kyren Williams. In his first season, McCullough's inexperienced running backs broke out, with Audric Estime rushing for 920 yards and 11 touchdowns, Logan Diggs rushing for 822 yards and four touchdowns, and Chris Tyree rushing for 444 yards and three touchdowns. The Irish run game improved to 189.1 yards per game in 2022 while rushing for 4.6 yards per attempt.

Diggs transferred out and Tyree moved to wide receiver prior to the 2023 season, but the run game didn't miss a beat. Estime broke out as one of the nation's best running backs, racking up 1,341 yards and a program record 18 touchdowns under McCullough's tutelage. Even with that success, the rest of Notre Dame's backfield - Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Gi'Bran Payne and Devyn Ford - accounted for 1,103 total yards and 11 touchdowns.

On the recruiting trail, McCullough also landed a Top 100 running back in each of his first two seasons at Notre Dame, with Love signing a year ago and Kedren Young signing in the 2024 class. Notre Dame also landed Payne and talented back Aneyas Williams during McCullough's tenure. 

McCullough has proven to be a strong technical coach for the Irish, and his backs have thrived with an all-around game. He's also noted by sources as being heavily involved in working with his players off the field, focusing on developing players from a wholistic standpoint.

Keeping McCullough and adding offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and wide receivers coach Mike Brown gives the Irish a chance to have a much improved offensive staff in 2024.

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Bryan Driskell
BRYAN DRISKELL

Bryan Driskell is the publisher of Irish Breakdown and has been covering Notre Dame football for over a decade. A former college football player and coach, Bryan and Irish Breakdown bring a level of expertise and analysis that is unmatched. From providing in depth looks at the Fighting Irish, breaking news stories and honest recruiting analysis, Irish Breakdown has everything Notre Dame football fans want and need. Bryan was previous a football analyst for Blue & Gold Illustrated before launching Irish Breakdown. He coached college football at Duquesne University, Muhlenberg College, Christopher Newport University, Wittenberg University and Defiance College. During his coaching career he was a pass game coordinator, recruiting coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach and wide receivers coach. Bryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Salisbury University, where he played quarterback for the Sea Gulls. You can email Bryan at bryan@irishbreakdown.com. Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Follow Bryan on Twitter: @CoachD178Like and follow Irish Breakdown on FacebookSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter