NEW YORK (AP) — No. 25 Notre Dame heads into the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers with interim coordinators running the offense and defense after coach Brian Kelly’s top two assistants took head coaching jobs this month.
The goal for Mike Denbrock, who is running the Fighting Irish offense, and Kerry Cooks, who is leading the defense, is to make the players feel as if nothing has changed.
Denbrock says his job was simple: Get the players ready to play a bowl game.
Rutgers also has prepared for the Pinstripe Bowl with some staff turnover, but for different reasons. Coach Kyle Flood fired defensive coordinator Dave Cohen and two other offensive assistants after the regular season. Special teams coordinator Joe Rossi has been coaching the defense.
