Former Notre Dame star quarterback Ron Powlus is stepping into a groundbreaking role with the Fighting Irish athletic department, marking a new chapter for both the program and the former signal-caller.

Powlus, who previously served as Notre Dame football's director of player development, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer—a first-of-its-kind position in South Bend. The move comes as college athletics undergoes rapid transformation, with schools adapting to new landscapes in NIL, player development, and operational efficiency.

"The college athletics ecosystem is changing at the fastest rate in its history," said Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. "Moving Ron into the COO role will bring the amazing leadership that he's consistently exhibited with our football program to the entire athletic department."

In his expanded capacity, Powlus will maintain day-to-day oversight of the football program and the department's NIL division, while adding sports performance, internal operations, equipment, and facilities to his portfolio. It's a natural progression for a man who knows the Fighting Irish from the inside out.

A four-year starter for the Irish from 1994 to 1997, Powlus was a Sports Illustrated cover boy who set 20 school records and started all 44 games he played. He finished his career with 7,602 passing yards and 52 touchdowns, leading Notre Dame to bowl appearances in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl and 1997 Independence Bowl.

After a brief NFL stint, Powlus returned to Notre Dame for a five-year run as director of personnel development and later quarterbacks coach through 2010. He then coached quarterbacks at Akron and Kansas before rejoining the Fighting Irish family in his current role.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this great university and athletic department," Powlus said. "Notre Dame is a special place for me and my family, and I'm energized to work with such outstanding student-athletes and staff who are joined in our shared mission of excellence."

For fans of the Fighting Irish, this promotion signals a commitment to blending tradition with innovation—something every Notre Dame supporter can get behind, whether they're cheering from the stands or repping their favorite gear from the team store.