Notre Dame Loses Long-Time Assistant Strength Coach to NFL

The Philadelphia Eagles hired away Fred Hale, who had been with the Irish for five seasons.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Notre Dame football program is losing a long-time assistant strength and conditioning coach, as Fred Hale has been hired by the Philadelphia Eagles. Hale had been with the Irish for five seasons, briefly serving as the interim director of the strength program in 2023 when the previous director abruptly resigned.

Why it matters

Hale's departure leaves a hole in Notre Dame's strength and conditioning staff, which is a critical part of the program's success. The Irish will need to find a capable replacement to work alongside head strength coach Loren Landow.

The details

Hale previously spent seven years at Eastern Michigan, rising to co-director of sports performance while working closely with the Eagles' football program. He has also logged NFL time as a strength and conditioning assistant with the Buffalo Bills and worked at Tennessee in a similar role. A native of Mentor, Ohio, Hale was a two-sport All-American in football and wrestling at Mercyhurst, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in exercise science.

  • Hale has been with the Irish for the past five seasons.
  • In 2023, Hale briefly led Notre Dame's entire strength program as interim director following the abrupt resignation of Matt Balis.

The players

Fred Hale

A long-time assistant strength and conditioning coach who has been with the Notre Dame football program for the past five seasons.

Loren Landow

The head strength and conditioning coach at Notre Dame, who will now have to find a new assistant to work alongside him.

Matt Balis

The former director of strength and conditioning at Notre Dame, who abruptly resigned in 2023, leading Hale to briefly take over the program.

Philadelphia Eagles

The NFL team that has hired away Fred Hale from Notre Dame to serve as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

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What they’re saying

“The 2026 coaching carousel has not yet come to an end for Notre Dame football, as John Brice of Football Scoop has reported that the Philadelphia Eagles have hired away an assistant strength coach.”

— Sunny Verma, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Notre Dame will need to find a capable replacement to fill the assistant strength and conditioning coach role vacated by Fred Hale's departure to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The takeaway

The loss of Fred Hale, a long-time member of Notre Dame's strength and conditioning staff, is a significant one for the program. Maintaining a strong strength and conditioning program is crucial for the Irish's continued success, and they will need to find a suitable replacement to work alongside head coach Loren Landow.