Al Golden left the Notre Dame football program last week following the Fighting Irish’s loss in the National Championship Game. A week later, the team is progressing in its search for a new defensive coordinator, with a familiar name emerging as a leading candidate—a former coach at Ohio State, who happened to defeat Notre Dame in the title game.
Chris Ash, who served as an assistant coach for the Buckeyes during the 2010s, is being considered seriously for the vacant position on Marcus Freeman’s staff. Ash’s experience includes a stint as head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, although his tenure there lasted only four seasons in Piscataway. Sportswriter Pete Sampson from The Athletic reported on Sunday that “Multiple sources tell The Athletic that former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash has emerged as a strong candidate to be Notre Dame’s next defensive coordinator,” also mentioning Ash’s previous association with Ohio State.
The Irish defense boasts a wealth of top-tier talent heading into 2025, meaning whoever steps into this role will have ample resources at their disposal. Notre Dame’s recent playoff journey brought excitement to its fanbase, as they came closer to a National Championship than they had since 2012, falling just short of achieving their first significant bowl win since 1993 against Ohio State.
As they look ahead to 2025, time will reveal how they will respond; they appear to have the potential to be a formidable team once more. It remains to be seen if Ash will be part of that journey.
The college football community has reacted to this development, with reporter Steve Politi expressing his support for the idea on social media. Another reporter, Bart Pohlman, commented, “There’s a name I haven’t heard in a minute” in agreement. However, not everyone is on board with the prospect, as another fan voiced disapproval, while another suggested they should simply hire from within.
