Former Ohio State LB James Laurinaitis to Join Notre Dame Staff

Former Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis announced Monday he is joining Notre Dame in a support staff role.

Laurinaitis announced the move on his radio show, Bishop and Laurinaitis, on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, Ohio.

You heard it here officially first: @JLaurinaitis55 is joining the staff at Notre Dame! But he will finish out the week on our show.

Congrats James!
— Bishop & Friends (@971BFS) January 3, 2022

Laurinaitis will reunite with Marcus Freeman in South Bend after the two played together at Ohio State from 2005–08. Laurinaitis was a three-time All-American with the Buckeyes, winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice. The former Ohio State star has worked for the Big Ten Network since 2017.

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“With your best friend getting the head-coaching job, it's a pretty unique situation and a pretty awesome opportunity to get up there and get started in the profession,” Laurinaitis said Monday.

Freeman was promoted to head coach on Dec. 3 after former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly left for LSU. Notre Dame finished 11–2 in 2021, ending the year with a 37–35 loss to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl.

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For more Notre Dame coverage, check out Irish Breakdown.

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