He's done it nearly all his life. From his days as a tackle and four-year starter at small Carroll College in the late 1970s to his life now beneath the Golden Dome, first-year offensive line coach John McDonell has always thought like an offensive lineman.

After all of these years, it's fair to say McDonell has seen a lot and learned a good bit about how the position should be played.

"It's been too long ago as far as playing, but I think coaching — once you coach and play a specific position so long, you really start to think and see the things out there," McDonell said. "That's what you try to relate to the players. You talk to one another and you understand one another, and you understand the situations out there."

With all of his experience, McDonell hopes that some of his knowledge will rub off on those young players.

"You want to teach them want happens out there, so that when it comes to them on the football field, they won't get rattled, because they've seen it before and they've practiced it before, and they understand what's going to happen," he said.

McDonell comes to Notre Dame after spending one year coaching under head coach Tyrone Willingham at Stanford.

"I feel very fortunate that Coach Willingham asked me to join him here," McDonell said. "I think that this is an outstanding university, and I feel very honored to be coaching here and to be a part of what we're hoping to get."

Last season, the Cardinal ranked 23rd nationally in rushing, while averaging over 200 yards per game. With the Irish, McDonell will concentrate on centers and guards while working with fellow first-year offensive line coach Mike Denbrock, who will handle tackles and tight ends.

McDonell spent the majority of his career coaching at Washington State. From 1989-93, he served as the offensive line/tight ends coach and then from 1994-2000 he took over offensive coordinator duties in addition to coaching the offensive line.

McDonell's experience also includes stints as offensive line coach at Weber State and alma mater Carroll College.

In addition, he served as head coach of Scobey High School in Montana for two years.

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