Mike Denbrock expected to be Notre Dame offensive coordinator

The search for Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator has not received the same attention as some of the high-profile head coaching changes in recent weeks, but despite the fanfare, the Fighting Irish are closing in on naming Chuck Martin’s successor.

Brian Kelly interviewed Al Borges, Jeff Quinn and Don Patterson, according to Blue & Gold Illustrated on Monday, but interim coordinator Mike Denbrock remains the leader to run the Irish offense. The other candidates could be hired to be the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Borges was fired last week as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach of the Michigan Wolverines but after the Wolverines finished 86th in offense this year he may find it difficult to hop right back into coaching.

Quinn was on Kelly’s staffs at Central Michigan and Cincinnati prior to taking the head coaching job with Buffalo. Despite signing a five-year extension in 2012, could he leave a head coaching job for a coordinator position?

Patterson was on Quinn’s staff as quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator before taking an associate head coaching position under former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco last week. Could he take a second job within a week?

These factors lead many to believe that Denbrock is currently the frontrunner for the job.Denbrock and Kelly’s relationship dates back to Grand Valley State where the two started as graduate assistants in 1987 and later Denbrock served as Kelly’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach when Kelly was the head coach.

Whoever gets the job will have Everett Golson back at quarterback after missing the 2013 season after being dismissed from school for poor academic judgment.

A decision on the hiring could be made as soon as Monday according to Blue & Gold Illustrated with a formal announcement coming shortly thereafter.