March 1, 2005

Chad Klunder, a graduate assistant football coach at the University of Notre Dame the last two seasons, has been named director of football operations at Notre Dame, new Irish head coach Charlie Weis announced today.

Klunder will coordinate a variety of administrative and operational details with Weis, including assisting with team travel, day-to-day scheduling for the squad, budgets and special events such as coaches clinics.

Klunder, who worked with the Irish offense the past two seasons, previously served as running backs coach and coordinator of football operations at Harvard from 1998 through 2002. During his tenure at Harvard, his running backs led the Ivy League in rushing on three occasions. He coached three all-Ivy League players, including Chris Menick, Harvard’s all-time leading rusher. Harvard in 2001 finished 9-0 in the Ivy League and became the first Harvard team to go unbeaten or untied in conference play since 1913.

Klunder also served as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Minnesota – and worked as a graduate assistant football coach at St. Cloud State. At St. Cloud, he coached Randy Martin, who was a finalist in 1995 and ’96 for the Harlon Hill Trophy that goes to the NCAA Division II player of the year.

The Waverly, Iowa, native played defensive back at Wartburg College in Waverly. He earned four letters, was a two-time unanimous all-league pick and gained honorable mention All-America recognition. He served as a Wartburg co-captain in 1994 when his team advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.

Born Aug. 28, 1972, Klunder received a degree in sports management from Wartburg in 1995 and has done coursework on his master’s degree at St. Cloud State, Minnesota and Notre Dame.