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Notre Dame Football: Top 3 candidates to replace Clark Lea as defensive coordinator

By Dante Pryor

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman high fives Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tyler Scott (21) as he comes off the field following a special teams play in the fourth quarter during an NCAA college football game against the Army Black Knights, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won 24-10.Army Black Knights At Cincinnati Bearcats Sept 26
Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman high fives Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tyler Scott (21) as he comes off the field following a special teams play in the fourth quarter during an NCAA college football game against the Army Black Knights, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won 24-10.Army Black Knights At Cincinnati Bearcats Sept 26 /
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Notre Dame football defensive coordinator Clark Lea is set to be the next head coach at Vanderbilt. Here are three possible candidates to replace Lea.

After four seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish — first was as linebackers coach and then as defensive coordinator — Clark Lea was announced as the next head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores on Dec. 20.

Lea will officially take over head coaching duties after Notre Dame’s season is over.

Lea — 38 — began his coaching career at UCLA as a graduate assistant. After leaving Los Angeles, he spent the next decade as a linebackers coach. Lea coached linebackers at South Dakota State, UCLA, Bowling Green, Syracuse, Wake Forest and Notre Dame. It was at Bowling Green where Lea met now-Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko. He also worked with Elko at Wake Forest and followed him to Notre Dame when he was named defensive coordinator.

When Elko took the defensive coordinator position at Texas A&M, Lea was promoted. As defensive coordinator, the Irish continued with their 4-2-5 defense. Lea now looks to rebuild a Vanderbilt program that went winless this season under former head coach Derek Mason.

Lea is a Nashville-native who played fullback at Vanderbilt. This was the opportunity Lea has looked for as a head coach. “Every decision I’ve made in my career,” Lea said, “was to hopefully have a chance at this job.”

Who will replace Lea at Notre Dame? Here are three possibilities.

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