SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – On Thursday, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Swain announced Garrett Mack as the fifth head coach in Notre Dame College football history. Mack has been on the NDC coaching staff for two seasons and during the fall 2021 campaign, he was the Run Game Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.

"After an extensive coaching search, Garrett Mack brought the best set of experience and knowledge to be selected as our next Head Football Coach," Swain said. "The last two years here at NDC, Garrett has been an excellent assistant coach as well as excelling as our recruiting coordinator. Our recruiting class this year being one of the best in the nation is evidence to his superior skill set. I am very confident our culture of championship success will continue under his leadership."

As the Defensive Line Coach in fall 2021, Notre Dame ranked third in NCAA Division II in tackles for loss with 105 and ranked tied for fourth with 44 sacks. Noah Harris-Lyles ranked fifth in the country with 12 sacks and was tied for seventh in D2 with four forced fumbles and 20.5 tackles for loss.

The Falcons' offense ran for 199.4 yards per game, 2,592 total yards and scored 29 touchdowns on the ground.



"I first want to wish the best of luck to Coach Mental in regards to the new opportunity he was given," Mack mentioned. "Mick has a been a tremendous leader of men as an employee at Notre Dame College. He has been the backbone of this program since the beginning and I am excited for the task of being the next head coach here. I want to thank Scott Swain, Notre Dame College President Dr. Pressimone, these players and coaches for the support and confidence to lead this program. The standard continues to be the standard, our brand of football continues to be the same and we will continue to have high expectations for this program.

Being a native of Northeast Ohio, hard work is everything. This team, our coaches and our program will continue to work diligently toward a National Championship."

Mack has experience in many different roles at the collegiate level. Prior to joining the Falcons, he was the Linebackers Coach at Oberlin College in 2017 and 2019. During the 2018 campaign, he was the Wide Receivers/Strength and Conditioning Coach at Baldwin Wallace University.

The new leader of the NDC program was the head coach at Oberlin High School in 2016, not long after graduating from Baldwin Wallace.

I'm excited," quarterback Chris Brimm said. "Coach Mack has been here for quite some time and being under Coach Mental during his time here, I believe he understands the goal we're trying to reach here at NDC. The standard within our program will of course still be the same, and I think Coach Mack, along with the rest of the coaching staff, are bought in and ready to keep this thing going. We all believe in him and we're ready to take this into the 2022 season."

"We all believe in Coach Mack and his ability to be a head coach," said linebacker Nathan Moore. "I am truly excited to see where he can take this team. This is just another step in our journey here at NDC and with him working under Coach Mental and the previous coaching staff, he knows what the standard is and will strive to build off of it. Our ultimate goal as a team is to win a national championship, coach Mack knows that and will do everything in his power to make sure we can achieve it. We are all truly excited to get to work for this upcoming season."

Mickey Mental has accepted the Offensive Coordinator position at Division I Weber State.

"I want to the thank President Mike Pressimone, Scott Swain, the admissions staff, athletic department and maintenance staff for their continued support through my 12 years here. To the parents, for trusting me with their sons to see them graduate and accomplish everything on the field, I thank you.  All the coaches, alumni and current players, you will be family forever, I cannot thank you enough for building one of the most accomplished programs in the country."

Mental, who had been the head coach of the program since Dec. 2019, was on the coaching staff since the beginning. The native of Olmsted Falls, Ohio joined the NDC staff prior to the 2009 season as a graduate assistant, following a successful career on the gridiron with Baldwin Wallace. He was promoted to Recruiting Coordinator in 2013, before being named the Offensive Coordinator for the 2015 season and became the Assistant Head Coach in May of 2016. 

"I have been blessed to work with Mickey for the past ten years," Swain said. "He has done a remarkable job in multiple coaching roles here at NDC. His highly successful past two seasons as our head coach prove just how great a coach he really is. I completely understand his decision to take this wonderful opportunity at NCAA Division I Weber State. Myself and our Falcon Family will miss him and wish him nothing but success in the future."

The spring 2021 Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year led the Falcons to back-to-back MEC Championships in one calendar year and put together a coaching record of 16-2. In the fall 2021 season, the Falcons were ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation and clinched a spot in the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the third time in program history. He was also the Offensive Coordinator for back-to-back MEC Championships in 2018 and 2019. The Falcons advanced to the D2 Semifinals in 2018 and got to the Quarterfinals in 2019.