SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College Director of Athletics Scott Swain has named Mickey Mental head coach of the NDC football program. The announcement comes after former head coach Mike Jacobs took over the Lenoir-Rhyne University football team.
 
Mental has been a part of the Notre Dame football team since its formation in 2009 when he served as a graduate assistant. From there, he has worked his way up under three head coaches to serve as the team's Recruiting Coordinator (2013), Offensive Coordinator (2015) and Assistant Head Coach (2016). He was in these roles through the 2019 season before being named Head Coach of the Falcons.
 
"I am very excited about Mickey leading the next chapter of Falcon football," Swain said. "Mickey has been here from the very beginning and knows our program better than anyone. He is well respected by the team, our athletic department and our college as a whole. Our goals for championships, both at the conference level and nationally, will continue as we move forward in building the Notre Dame College Football brand."
 
Under Mental's leadership as Offensive Coordinator, Notre Dame has seen huge success and put up outstanding numbers. The offense, which ranked seventh in the country in 2018 and 10th in 2019, has played a major role in NDC's Mountain East Conference Championships and NCAA Playoff runs in the last two seasons.
 
Notre Dame boasts one of the best rushing games in the country, which has ranked top 10 in each of the past two seasons. Mental has also been charged with coaching the team's quarterbacks since 2015, and has transformed the run-pass balance at NDC. In 2017, former quarterback Malik Grove set the NCAA Division II record for best interception ratio at 1.29 percent (13 interceptions in 1,008 attempts).
 
In 2018, he led an offensive attack that saw multiple other DII records fall, including most rushing yards gained by a freshman (Jaleel McLaughlin – 2,421) and most all-purpose yards gained by two players on the same team (McLaughlin & Marvelle Ross – 4,630).
 
"I am very grateful for the opportunity that the administration and Scott Swain have given me," Mental said. "We will look to build on the last two seasons, and hopefully take that next step. I am excited to get the players back from break and raise the bar each day on and off the field."
 
Mental takes over the program after four years under Mike Jacobs. Jacobs went 42-8 at Notre Dame and led the program to new heights, making it to the NCAA Semifinals in 2018 and the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2019. He saw the first top 25 ranking during his time with the Falcons and was named the National Coach of the Year in 2018. Lenoir-Rhyne went to the NCAA Quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons.
 
"It's bittersweet as my time at Notre Dame College comes to an end," Jacobs said. "My family is excited about the new opportunity, but sad to leave so many wonderful people. I appreciated Scott Swain giving me the chance to become a first-time head coach. I am most appreciative of all our players. They have worked tirelessly to build this program into something really special. My family will be forever indebted to them. I wish coach Mental all the best."