Brian Kelly will be bringing a defensive assistant from Notre Dame along with him to LSU.

On Friday, the Tigers announced that Kerry Cooks was added to the coaching staff as a defensive assistant after spending the past 2 seasons as a defensive analyst for the Fighting Irish. He also coached outside linebackers, cornerbacks and defensive backs at Notre Dame from 2010-14, which included serving as co-defensive coordinator from 2012-13.

“I am excited to add a Kerry Cooks to our defensive staff,” Kelly said in a statement. “He is a versatile coach and a proven recruiter, and he has a unique ability to empower and inspire student-athletes. His experience at the highest levels of the game as a player, position coach and coordinator will be instrumental to our success moving forward.”

Cooks has previously served as an assistant coach at Texas Tech (2019), Oklahoma (2015-18), Wisconsin (2006-09), Minnesota (2005), Western Illinois (2004) and Kansas State (2003). He played at Iowa from 1994-97, which led to him getting selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 5th round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

Now, Cooks is coming to the SEC for the 1st time in his football career, and he’ll look to help lead LSU’s defense to success in the near future.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to represent the very best football program in the country,” Cooks said in a statement. “There are very few places where year in and year out you will be able to compete for it all. The history and tradition of LSU is like no other. I consider it a privilege to be a part of such a special place and program.”