It was a surprise to nobody that after Vanderbilt fired head coach Derek Mason it quickly reached out to Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea.
Lea has forged one of the top defenses in the nation this year and done a tremendous job since taking over as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator in 2018.
Vanderbilt interviewed Lea for the position just over a week ago and, according to reports, is zeroing in on Lea to be its next head football coach.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea has been identified as the top target for the Vanderbilt coaching job and is expected to be named the school’s next coach, according to multiple sources. The move marks a homecoming for Lea, who is from the Nashville area, played at Vanderbilt and has both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the school.
Thamel’s piece goes on to state how Lea’s success at strong academic programs at Notre Dame and Wake Forest are a huge reason Vanderbilt likes him so much.
Lea has turned down multiple Group of Five programs who have reached out, according to Thamel.
Lea is a former Vanderbilt fullback and attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville as a teenager.
We will continue to keep you updated on developments, but, as of now, it appears time to start preparing for Brian Kelly to be searching for a new defensive coordinator after the season.