Brian Polian is officially a Notre Dame assistant again.
The Fighting Irish announced Tuesday that Polian, the former head coach at Nevada who worked as a Notre Dame assistant from 2005 to 2009, is joining Brian Kelly's staff as the team's new special teams coordinator.
"I’m thrilled about the opportunity to return to Notre Dame," Polian said in the announcement. "This is a very special university and football program. I want to thank coach Kelly and (athletics director) Jack Swarbrick for the opportunity to rejoin the Fighting Irish family. Laura (wife) and I are looking forward to coming back to this wonderful community. I’m excited to go to work, get to know the terrific student-athletes and prepare for a great 2017 season."
"Brian not only brings a successful history of coaching special teams, but he’s also considered one of the nation’s top recruiters," Kelly said in the announcement. "He simply understands Notre Dame, what it’s about and the type of student-athlete that we need to succeed at the highest level. I’m extremely excited to have Brian join this program, and our players will benefit from his mentorship, passion, energy and enthusiasm — both on and off the field.”
Polian previously served as Notre Dame's special teams coordinator during his five-year tenure as an assistant working under former Irish head coach Charlie Weis.
When Kelly arrived for the 2010 season, Polian left for an assistant-coaching job at Stanford, and he spent one year as an assistant at Texas A&M before his four years as the head coach at Nevada, during which the Wolf Pack amassed a 23-27 record.