Brian Polian expected to return to Notre Dame as special-teams coordinator, source says

Former Nevada head coach Brian Polian is expected to return to Notre Dame as the special-teams coordinator, a source told ESPN.com on Friday.

The website 247Sports first reported the news earlier Friday.

Polian will take over part of the duties that opened up earlier this week when the Irish fired tight-ends coach and special-teams coordinator Scott Booker, a source told ESPN.com. Polian is not expected to coach tight ends, though.

The 41-year-old Polian had spent five previous years as an assistant at Notre Dame, from 2005-09, serving as a special-teams coordinator during that time, along with having several different defensive-coaching duties. Polian had been the primary recruiter of Hawaii native and eventual Irish linebacker Manti Te'o. Te'o ended up finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2012, when the Irish made the BCS title game and finished 12-1.

Polian and Nevada "mutually decided to part ways" last month after a 5-7 season, which capped a 23-27 four-year record. The Wolf Pack marked Polian's first head-coaching job.

Polian will take over an Irish special-teams group that struggled immensely in 2016, ranking 123rd nationally in yards per punt return and 95th in yards per kick return. The Irish allowed two punt-return touchdowns and two kick-return touchdowns this season.

Polian is the latest hire in a busy week for Notre Dame, which fired Booker and, according to a source, hired Wake Forest defensive coordinator Mike Elko to the same position. Notre Dame also saw offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford leave to become Western Kentucky's head coach.

Polian is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame executive and ESPN NFL analyst Bill Polian.