Notre Dame Tabs Former Big Ten Head Coach As Next Defensive Coordinator

Chris Ash coached the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from 2016 to '19.
Ash was Rutgers' head coach from 2016 to '19.
Ash was Rutgers' head coach from 2016 to '19. / Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Just over a week after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship game, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have their next defensive coordinator.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the university is hiring Chris Ash as their new DC. He'll take over for Al Golden—who left Notre Dame for the same role with the Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday.

Ash has a plethora of experience coaching at both the collegiate and NFL levels. He has been the defensive coordinator for Drake (1998 to '99), Wisconsin (2011 to '12), Arkansas ('13), Ohio State ('14 to '15), and Texas ('20)—and his NFL stops include stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2021, safeties coach) and Las Vegas Raiders ('22 to '23, defensive backs coach).

The 51-year-old also had a second stint in Jacksonville as a scout in 2024, and was both a recruiting coordinator and a defensive backs coach during his time with Iowa State (2006), San Diego State ('07 to '08), and Iowa State ('09).

Ash's top job was as the head coach at Rutgers from 2016 to '19, where he boasted an 8-32 record before being fired after less than four seasons.

The Fighting Irish defense he'll take over from Golden was one of the best in college football this past season. Notre Dame allowed just 14.3 points per game during the 2024 season—good for second in the nation—and also finished top 10 in total yards allowed per game.


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Mike Kadlick
MIKE KADLICK

Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master's in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.