Brian Kelly's Five Pillars
Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly and the University of Notre Dame football program are committed to developing each student-athlete in five core areas: intellectual, social, spiritual, skill and physical. These five pillars combine to give Notre Dame’s football players an enriching education and knowledge base to be successful on the football field and a contributor to their community off the gridiron.
Intellectual Development
The University of Notre Dame expects the best out of its student-athletes, just as it does of every other student on campus. Notre Dame has had unprecedented academic success among its athletes, including its football players. Since 1962, 98.7 percent of football players who have stayed at Notre Dame at least four years have graduated from Notre Dame.
Social Development
With all 50 states and more than 100 nations represented, the University of Notre Dame is one of a handful of universities with a diverse and international student body. Members of the football team are active in groups and clubs on campus and in the South Bend community where head coach Brian Kelly and his coaching staff are committed to active community service.
Spiritual Development
Since its founding, the University of Notre Dame has stressed mixing academics and faith while becoming America’s preeminent Catholic university. Notre Dame prides itself on being a Christian community that prepares its students for leadership in building a more human and divine society.
Skill Development
With more than 200 years of experience between ten coaches, the Fighting Irish football team benefits from having one of the best and most knowledgeable staffs in the nation. Player development is the hallmark of this Irish coaching staff, with many of the coaches having developed players to All-Conference, All-America or first-round NFL Draft honors. In their second season at Notre Dame, the coaching staff helped develop two All-Americans and two first round selections in the 2012 NFL Draft in receiver Michael Floyd (Arizona Cardinals) and safety Harrison Smith (Minnesota Vikings). Last season the staff helped to develop two First Team All-Americans and top draft picks in Tyler Eifert (Cincinnati Bengals) and Manti Teo (San Diego Chargers).
Physical Development
The Notre Dame football program is based in the state-of-the-art Guglielmino Athletics Complex that includes the 25,000-square-foot Haggar Fitness Complex. Within these walls, the Fighting Irish prepare to win by taking care of themselves in the weight room, the training room and with meals provided at training table. Notre Dame’s football team benefits from the tutelage of Director of Football Strength and Conditioning Paul Longo as he enters his 27th year in collegiate athletics. The Fighting Irish are also fortunate to employ a full-time sports dietitian in the athletic department, as Erika Whitman continually provides accurate and up-to-date nutrition education to Notre Dame’s football players.