New Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly announces he will retain running backs coach Tony Alford

Kelly retains Notre Dame assistant Tony Alford

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — New Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has named his first assistant, announcing Friday that he will keep Irish running backs coach Tony Alford on his staff.

“I got to know Tony during our days in the Big East when he was at Louisville and I was at Cincinnati,” Kelly said. “He is a tremendous teacher and a great recruiter and I’m thrilled to keep him on the coaching staff. He has consistently developed his players at every school he has coached and his passion for the game is infectious. I look forward to working closely with him.”

Alford, 41, is credited with getting a verbal commitment from defensive tackle Louis Nix of Jacksonville, Fla., a day after Charlie Weis was fired. Alford said he got to know about Kelly when his cousin played at Grand Valley State, where Kelly coached for 13 seasons.

“Coach Kelly has been a winner at every stop he has made and I’m excited to get to work with him on returning Notre Dame to where it belongs,” he said.

In Alford’s first season as running backs coach, the Irish were 85th in the nation in rushing, averaging 128.2 yards a game. The season before, the Irish were 100th in the nation at 109.7 yards a game. In 2007, they were 115th at 75.3 yards a game.

Several others from Weis’ staff have been asked to stay, including director of football operations Chad Klunder, director of football personnel Tim McDonnell and director of football development Dave Peloquin.

Kelly also has offered a job to defensive graduate assistant Bryant Young, a former Irish standout who played 14 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Kelly is expected to bring some assistants with him from Cincinnati, but those coaches are helping the fourth-ranked Bearcats (12-0) prepare for the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl against Florida (12-1).