Notre Dame Preparatory is pleased to announce the hiring of Mark Nolan as the Saints' next head football coach. Nolan comes to Notre Dame Prep after spending six years as head coach at Regis Jesuit High School in Denver, Colorado.
Nolan's teams reached the state playoffs in each of his six years, earning three conference titles and a state championship appearance in 2010.
Nolan was named conference coach of the year three times and was Colorado Coach of the Year in 2013. His teams amassed impressive offensive numbers from 2009-2014, establishing three of the six best offensive seasons in the school's 93-year history.
From 2006-2008, Nolan was a member of Dan Hawkins' staff at the University of Colorado as director of recruiting and assistant director of football operations. He also worked with the Buffalo's defensive backs and offensive line.
Nolan has ties to two Arizona high schools: Brophy College Preparatory and Gilbert High School.
Prior to joining the CU staff, he taught history and weight training at Brophy College Prep. He was also the school's defensive coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator and head track coach. Nolan's defense helped to secure the school's first state title in football, and he has been credited with helping to lay the foundation for the success that immediately followed his departure to CU through the implementation of a professional weight-training program as well as the change in the program's defensive philosophy.
In addition, Nolan spent six years teaching and coaching football and track and field at Gilbert High School, where he was mentored by Arizona's all-time leader in high school victories, Jesse Parker.
Nolan earned his bachelor's degree in history from Willamette University in 1995, where he lettered four seasons as a defensive back, earning all-conference honors as a junior and senior. He played two of those seasons under former University of Colorado coach Dan Hawkins. He also earned four letters as a member of the track team, specializing in sprints and relays. Nolan earned his M.A. in Education from Willamette in May of 1997.
Nolan hails from Aumsville, Oregon, and was graduated from Cascade High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and track.
Notre Dame Preparatory is eager to welcome Mark and his family into the community.
"NDP is blessed to have such an outstanding educator and coach join our community," Principal Jim Gmelich said. "Throughout his career as teacher and coach, Mark has demonstrated a commitment to the values of Catholic education and understands well how those values impact the formation of young men and women. We are fortunate that he has chosen to share his gifts with the NDP community," Gmelich added.