Feb. 07--In a potentially big blow for Notre Dame, recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Tony Alford is leaving Notre Dame's staff for Ohio State.
Alford served one year under former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis and was on Kelly's staff since Kelly took the Notre Dame job in 2010.
Alford's departure comes on the heels of the Irish losing defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks, another top recruiter for Notre Dame. Cooks handled Notre Dame's recruiting efforts in Texas while Alford handled Florida, two recruiting hotbeds.
Irish Illustarted first reported Alford's move.
Shortly after the news broke, Dexter Williams, a Florida running back whom the Irish inked on signing day tweeted: "Feel betrayed but it is what it is."
Later, Williams tweeted: "Still going to ball with my family. #ND #Irish."
The Irish are also expected to hire former Kelly assistant and former Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn as quarterbacks coach to fill the vacancy Matt LaFleur created with his move to the Falcons, Irish Illustrated reported.
Quinn was fired in October during his fifth season with the Bulls. He previously coached under Kelly at Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Grand Valley State.
chine@tribpub.comTwitter @ChristopherHine
