Chad Bowden, who’s leaving for USC, was the first hire of head coach Marcus Freeman and was instrumental in Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts
Notre Dame is facing a challenging period following their 34-23 defeat to Ohio Statein Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The aftermath has seen a wave of significant departures, including players declaring for the NFL Draft or entering the transfer portal and defensive coordinator Al Golden returning to the NFL.
Team athletic director and general manager Chad Bowden has now also left South Bend, taking up the GM role at USC. QB Collective, a quarterback development organization, first announced the news on Friday afternoon before the Trojans – as well as his dad, Jim – confirmed it later that evening.
Bowden reportedly earned between $275,000-300,000 per year at Notre Dame, but Southern Cal is expected to increase that figure to $1 million. Known for his unique and effective recruiting style, Bowden’s exit follows defensive coordinator Golden’s Cincinnati Bengals reunion.
Bowden was head coach Marcus Freeman’s first hire, and his recruiting skills played a crucial role in Notre Dame’s success. He was instrumental in securing commitments from high-profile four-star recruits like Will Black, CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey, and Brenan Vernon, as well as valuable three-star players such as Armel Mukam, Preston Zinter, and Taebron Bennie-Powell.
Bowden’s recruiting efforts for Notre Dame in 2023 went viral when he welcomed prospect Zinter at the airport, suited up and dancing to ‘We Like to Party’ with a giant boombox. His innovative approach caught the attention of Michigan who tried to poach him from Notre Dame.
However, the Irish promoted Bowden to Assistant Athletic Director for Player Personnel/General Manager. Despite missing out on Bowden, Michigan secured Bryce Underwood, the country’s top recruit.
Notre Dame is bracing for impact after losing nine players to the transfer portal and several key players, including two-time All-American safety Xavier Watts, to the NFL Draft. With 24 recruits committed for 2025, Notre Dame ranks 12th nationally, just ahead of USC’s 13th-ranked group.