Feb. 24, 2011

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The architect behind the most prolific offense in college football last year has been added as a guest speaker to the 2011 Notre Dame Football Coaches Clinic.

University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, who led his Ducks to the national championship game this past season with the nation’s top-rated offense, will be a guest speaker at the clinic set for March 24-26 on Notre Dame’s campus.

Kelly just completed his second year as head coach at Oregon and is 22-4 at the helm of the Ducks. He earned national coach of the year honors in 2010 from Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation and Football Writers Association of America after guiding Oregon to a 12-0 regular season and appearance in the BCS National Championship Game against Auburn. The Tigers prevailed in that contest 22-19 on a last-second field goal.

In addition to Kelly, it was previously announced that former Notre Dame assistant coach and Florida head coach Urban Meyer will also be a featured speaker at the Notre Dame Football Coaches Clinic. Kelly and Meyer will speak on two separate days at the clinic.

Oregon averaged 47.0 points per game in 2010 to lead the nation and paced all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense by averaging 530.7 yards per contest. 2010 Doak Walker Award recipient (top college running back) LaMichael James paced the ground game for Kelly’s offense as the Ducks ranked fourth in the country at 286.2 rushing yards per game.

Kelly made history in 2009 as he became the first Pac-10 rookie head coach to win the conference outright and he led Oregon to its first appearance in the Rose Bowl since 1995. The Ducks finished 10-3 in 2009 and ranked in the top 10 nationally in points per game (eighth, 36.1) and rushing yards per game (sixth, 231.7).

Besides Kelly and Meyer, each member of the Notre Dame coaching staff and a pair of head coaches from two of the top high school programs in Ohio and South Carolina will make presentations. Mickey Wilson, head coach at Myrtle Beach High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Rick Finotti, head coach at Saint Edward High School in Cleveland, Ohio, will serve as guest speakers.

This year’s clinic will be held on Notre Dame’s campus March 24-26 and is open to all football coaches interested in receiving an advanced gridiron course taught by some of the top football coaches in the country.

Chalk-talk sessions will provide attendees with an excellent opportunity to become familiar with various coaching techniques and a chance to know the coaches and other participants.

In addition to the various presentations, participants will get an exclusive look at the 2011 Fighting Irish football team as the squad practices twice during the clinic. Coaches’ socials both Thursday and Friday evenings, a BBQ dinner on Friday and a tour of the Notre Dame Stadium locker room are all included. Local vendors and exhibitors will also be present during the weekend.

Spots are filling up fast and this year’s attendance is expected to approach 1,000 participants. Reservations are currently being accepted. For more information or to download registration forms, check out NotreDameCoachesClinic.com or contact Chad Klunder in the Notre Dame football office at (574) 631-8643 or cklunder@nd.edu.

-ND-