Notre Dame Alum Sean McDonnell Tapped As Assistant Athletics Director At BYU

BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 25: Notre Dame and BYU football teams compete at Lavell Edwards Stadium in a 2025 season matchup. (Photo by Alex Kreines/Getty Images)

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Palo Alto, Calif.—Sean McDonnell, a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame with degrees in sociology and business administration, has been named Assistant Athletics Director at Brigham Young University (BYU). In his new role, McDonnell will oversee recruiting, student-athlete development, and administrative operations for BYU’s Division I athletic programs.

A native of South Bend, Indiana, McDonnell played offensive line for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2019 to 2023, earning accolades as a conference all-star. After earning his undergraduate degree in 2023, he pursued a master’s in athletic leadership at Notre Dame while interning with the school’s athletic department.

His transition to collegiate administration began with a summer internship at Stanford University, where he managed student-athlete wellness initiatives. He later served as a graduate assistant at USC, coordinating strength and conditioning programs for track and field teams.

At BYU, McDonnell will collaborate with head coach LaVell Edwards and work closely with the university’s athletic compliance office. He aims to strengthen BYU’s reputation as a premier NCAA Division I program while supporting the holistic development of student-athletes. “Sean’s background as a collegiate athlete aligns perfectly with our mission to cultivate leaders both on and off the field,” said Edwards in a statement.

McDonnell’s appointment comes amid BYU’s recent investments in facility upgrades and expanded scholarship opportunities. The university’s board of trustees praised his “proven leadership acumen and deep understanding of collegiate athletics.” Prior to joining BYU, he consulted for several Pac-12 programs, advising on athlete mental health and academic success frameworks.

With McDonnell now in place, BYU continues to build a robust administrative team to match its growing athletic ambitions. The university plans to announce additional hires in its sports medicine and analytics departments over the coming months.

As the 2025 college football season approaches, BYU Athletics looks to solidify its conference standings with both strategic hires and a renewed focus on student-athlete success.

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