Source confirms offensive coordinator Chip Long will remain at Notre Dame

After a night of reports filled with conjecture about Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long’s future, a source close to the situation confirmed emphatically Sunday that his future is with the Irish.

“He’s going nowhere,” the source said of the 35-year-old, who is set to begin his third season with the Notre Dame football program.

Among the reports Saturday night was this one from AL.com suggesting that Long could be headed to Alabama to join coach Nick Saban’s staff, which has multiple vacancies at the moment:

“(Steve) Sarkisian wasn’t the only big name coach in town (Saturday),” Matt Zenitz of AL-com wrote. “Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long was also in Tuscaloosa (Saturday), according to sources.

“It looks like he could join the staff in some capacity even if/when Sarkisian is hired as offensive coordinator. A Birmingham native, Long has been the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame the last two years after one season as the OC at Memphis.”

In Notre Dame’s first two seasons with Long as the offensive coordinator, tight ends coach and offensive play-caller, the Irish finished in the top 35 nationally both times in total offense. And their No. 24 rank in scoring offense and No. 7 standing nationally in rushing offense in 2017 are Brian Kelly Era highs.

Kelly just completed his ninth season with the Irish (12-1) finishing fifth in the final AP poll after falling to eventual national champ Clemson, 30-3, in a College Football Playoff semifinal game, Dec. 29 in Arlington, Texas.

Long this season was named one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.

He was asked about his head coaching ambitions four weeks ago.

“I want to be at Notre Dame as long as they want me to be here,” Long told the Tribune. “It’s a great place. You don’t get to coach kids like this anywhere else in the country. It’s such a special place. I don’t ever see myself leaving in a long, long time.”

Long’s wife, Karissa, is pregnant with their second child, due in April. Karissa is originally from Chicago.

“My wife loves it here,” Long said.