Chad Klunder Position: Graduate Assistant Alma Mater: Wartburg '95

The 2004 football season was Chad Klunder's second as a graduate assistant coach at Notre Dame. Klunder works closely with the Fighting Irish offense. Klunder joined the Notre Dame staff in 2003 after serving as the running backs coach and coordinator of football operations at Harvard University since 1998. At Harvard, Klunder was responsible for all running back unit meetings, practice organization and position evaluations. While at Harvard, Klunder's running backs led the Ivy League in rushing three times and he coached three all-Ivy League players, including Chris Menick, who finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in Harvard history. In 2001, Harvard won the Ivy League championship with a perfect 9-0 record and became the first Harvard team since 1913 to go undefeated or untied in league play. Prior to his stint at Harvard, Klunder worked as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Minnesota and also was a graduate assistant coach at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. While at St. Cloud, Klunder coached Randy Martin, a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy given to the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in both 1995 and 1996. A four-year starter at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, Klunder was a four-year letterman at defensive back, a two-time unanimous all-conference selection and an honorable mention All-American. He also was a co-captain when Wartburg advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals in 1994. Klunder received a degree in sports management from Wartburg in 1995 and has taken master's coursework at both St. Cloud State and Minnesota. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Born Aug. 28, 1972, in Waverly, Iowa, Klunder is single and lives in Mishawaka.