Notre Dame went after Texas Tech general manager James Blanchard for its own GM job, but that pursuit is likely going to fall short.

Blanchard will likely stay at Texas Tech, a program source told Blue & Gold. His decision was not contingent on money or staffing, both of which were agreed to in principle, per the source. But “life events and timing” are keeping the rising star evaluator in his home state of Texas.

Ultimately, the source said, Blanchard decided not to leave Texas, where he’s spent all but eight months of his professional life. The Irish thought very highly of Blanchard, which is why they gave him several days to consider their offer. However, he still turned it down to remain close to home.

Blanchard has five children with his wife, Kiara Fowler,

Notre Dame is not in any hurry to fill its general position, which opened when Chad Bowden left the Irish for the same position at USC.

News broke on Jan. 25 that Irish head coach  was targeting Blanchard to be Notre Dame’s general manager. On Feb. 2, reported that Blanchard was staying in the Morris Inn located on Notre Dame’s campus as the two parties looked to finalize the deal.

Entering his fourth season as Texas Tech’s general manager, Blanchard is considered one of the top young personnel people in college football. He got his start at Baylor as director of recruiting from 2019-20 after spending six years as an assembler specialist at American Valve and Hydrant while evaluating Texas high school football prospects on the side.

When then-Baylor head coach Matt Rhule left for the Carolina Panthers, he took Blanchard with him as a pro scout. He would then return the Baylor as assistant athletics director for player personnel, and when then-Bears linebackers coach Joey McGuire took the head coaching job at Texas Tech, Blanchard was his first hire.