BREAKING: Notre Dame Hire New Running Back Coach As Replacement For Deland McCullough
According to reports, Notre Dame is expected to hire Ja’Juan Seider from Penn State as its new running backs coach. He will take over for Deland McCullough, who left to assume a similar position with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.
Seider has been Penn State’s running backs coach since 2018. In 2020, head coach James Franklin elevated him to run game coordinator, and in 2022, he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator. By 2023, Seider had earned the title of assistant head coach for the Nittany Lions.
Ja’Juan Seider a Familiar Face
Seider and Notre Dame faced off in this year’s Orange Bowl in Miami, where the Fighting Irish secured a 27-24 victory over Penn State in a closely contested battle at Hard Rock Stadium. During his time in Happy Valley, Seider played a key role in developing Penn State’s formidable backfield duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, both of whom surpassed 1,000 rushing yards last season. Singleton recorded 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns on 172 carries, while Allen tallied 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns on 220 attempts.
Singleton and Allen became just the third pair of Penn State running backs since 1960 to each rush for over 800 yards in a season, joining Zach Zwinak and Bill Belton (2013) and Tony Hunt and Michael Robinson (2005). Additionally, Singleton joined Saquon Barkley as the only Penn State freshman to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Barkley, now a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, rushed for 1,076 yards in 2015.
Both McCullough and Seider have a reputation for effectively utilizing multiple running backs, and Seider now inherits a talented backfield in South Bend. Leading Notre Dame’s potent rushing attack are Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who both made significant contributions this past season and will be key figures in the Irish’s offense heading into 2025.
Seider’s Road to South Bend
A Florida native, Seider began his collegiate career as a quarterback at West Virginia before transferring to Florida A&M for his final season. During his lone year at Florida A&M, he earned the Doug Williams Award for National Offensive Player of the Year and the Jake Gaither Award, throwing for 2,512 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was also named the 1999 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. His coaching journey has included stints at West Virginia, Marshall, Florida, and Penn State.
Seider has mentored several notable players, including Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (West Virginia), former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims (2014-17), and Miles Sanders (Penn State), a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft who currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.
While an official announcement may still be forthcoming, Seider’s hiring appears to be a strong move for Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame. With extensive experience in developing talent and managing deep running back rotations, Seider is well-equipped to maximize Notre Dame’s talented backfield.