According to SI’s Pat Forde, Jack Swarbrick’s swift but thorough coaching search last week that no one ever imagined he would have to conduct reportedly included at least three external candidates. Swarbrick quickly realized that Marcus Freeman was his man, delighting Notre Dame players and fans near-universally, but it’s an interesting insight into the details behind Swarbrick’s warp-speed process.
Sources familiar with the quick search said Notre Dame had eight current head coaches on its initial list. Two declined to participate, one had timing issues, two others were eliminated by the school. The list was quickly whittled to three head coaches and Freeman.