First, Michigan came for Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman's top off-the-field lieutenant, Chad Bowden.
This week, several sources told FootballScoop that Wisconsin came for one of Bowden's top recruiting assistants, Carter Auman.
Today, the Fighting Irish have fended off another suitor.
After being pursued for Wisconsin's director of player personnel role, Auman has informed both parties he plans to remain at his alma mater, Notre Dame.
Per sources, Auman is expected to be elevated to the role of assistant to the general manager, Bowden.
After first-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore offered Bowden a top post, Notre Dame elevated Bowden into its general manager role in February.
Auman has been a recruiting associate for the Fighting Irish football program, having first started in the recruiting office under previous head coach Brian Kelly.
Auman's elevated work in the past six months has been key in a Notre Dame recruiting operation that saw Michigan attempt to poach Bowden, Illinois come in to nab former Illini running back Dre Brown for a top personnel position and then Caleb Davis exit in late-December to help serve on Gerad Parker's inaugural Troy staff.
Notre Dame just recently wrapped nearly a month of prospect camps and key official visit sessions, elements in which Auman played a significant role.
At Wisconsin, where the highly regarded Max Stienecker has served as the Badgers personnel director of Luke Fickell's program, Auman was approached for a top personnel role there as Stienecker has been positioned to continue growing his role and responsibilities.
Stienecker and Davis both worked for Bowden at Cincinnati.
Presently, Notre Dame has the nation's No. 2 recruiting class per 247Sports, with a dozen four-star prospects committed and the Irish seeking to close out their 2025 haul as a factor in the recruiting of several additional blue-chip prospects.
Freeman, Bowden & Co. closed their 2024 class as 247Sports' No. 9 class, one of the program's highest-ranked signing hauls in a decade. They also added prized Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, Duke edge RJ Oben and top wideout Kris Mitchell, from FIU, as well as Marshall All-American Jayden Harrison via the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Notre Dame kicks off its third season under Freeman Aug. 31 at Texas A&M.