Vanderbilt’s 40-35 victory over No. 1 Alabama, a week after the Crimson Tide scored one of the biggest wins of the year over Georgia, will go down as an all-time disappointment.

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea returned to his alma mater in 2021 after spending the previous three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator under Brian Kelly. In two of those three seasons, Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff. It’s clear that Lea learned a lot about coaching while working under Kelly at Notre Dame, as well as hiring quality personnel.

When Vanderbilt defeated Alabama on Saturday, Lea was one of 10 Vanderbilt football staffers with a Notre Dame connection. Here they all are.

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt head coach

Clark Lea has been Vanderbilt’s head football coach since the 2021 season and previously served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator from 2018-2020. Notre Dame made the College Football Playoff in two of those three seasons.

Nick Lezynski, Vanderbilt Defensive Run game coordinator

Lezynski previously spent four years on Notre Dame’s defensive coaching staff. Three of those were at Lea before working under defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman in 2021.

Larry Black, Vanderbilt defensive line coach

Black spent 2018 as a graduate assistant on the Notre Dame staff under Lea.

Jimmy Thompson, Vanderbilt coach to the stars

Star is what Vanderbilt’s plan calls its hype of safety linebacker position and is coached by Thompson, a former Notre Dame player who served as an intern on the Fighting Irish coaching staff.

Josh Adams, Vanderbilt offensive quality control coach

Josh Adams is in his second year as an offensive quality control assistant for Vanderbilt. Adams was a star at Notre Dame, as he was the fastest Fighting Irish Back to ever reach 1,000 career rushing yards before going on a Heisman Trophy run for the first two-thirds of the 2017 season.

Arion Shinaver, Vanderbilt assistant safeties coach

Shinaver played football at Notre Dame from 2016 to 2019, appearing in seven career games.

Robert Stiner, director of football sports performance at Vanderbilt

From 2018-2020, Stiner served as Notre Dame’s assistant director of football strength under Matt Balis.

Ian Bures, Vanderbilt associate director of football sports performance

Bures was a member of Notre Dame’s strength and conditioning staff under Robert Stiner during Clark Lea’s time as defensive coordinator.

Molly Hart, Vanderbilt executive assistant to head coach, operations coordinator

Hart is a former college football equipment manager at Notre Dame and a student at St. Mary’s College.

Nik Valdiserri, Vanderbilt Director of Player Personnel

Valdiserri spent three seasons at Notre Dame from 2017 to 2019, where he was involved in recruiting, football operations and player personnel.

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