Ingalls leaving NU

EVANSTON, Ill.—Bret Ingalls, Northwestern's offensive line coach since 2006 and its running game coordinator in 2008, has been hired by the NFL's New Orleans Saints as their new running backs coach.

Ingalls will be reunited with Saints' head coach Sean Payton. Ingalls and Payton worked together on the coaching staff at San Diego State in 1989. There, Ingalls served as the running backs coach and tutored All-American Marshall Faulk. Ingalls, who was hired by former NU head coach Randy Walker in February of 2006, replaces Aaron Kromer, another former NU assistant, who was promoted to the Saints' offensive line/running game coordinator position.

"This is a terrific opportunity for Bret," said Pat Fitzgerald, NU's head coach. "He is a tremendous teacher and will make an impact at the next level. We want to thank him for his contributions to the Wildcat program and wish Bret and his family the very best in New Orleans."

Ingalls played a key role in helping develop one of the nation's youngest offensive lines in the country in 2008. For much of the season, the Wildcats started five first-year starters up front, including three redshirt freshmen. Northwestern's running attack, which was slowed by injuries to senior running backs Tyrell Sutton and Omar Conteh, averaged 141.8 yards per game.