Report: Notre Dame Hiring Former Ohio State Linebackers Coach Al Washington

Washington will serve as the Fighting Irish’s new defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Notre Dame is hiring former Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington as its new defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach.

Sources: Notre Dame is hiring Al Washington as the school’s new defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach, sources told ESPN. Washington has coached at Ohio State, Michigan and Boston College in his career.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 16, 2022

The 37-year-old Washington spent the last three seasons with the Buckeyes but was not retained after Ohio State hired new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who will now coach the Buckeyes' linebackers. He replaces Mike Elston, who was recently named as the defensive line coach at Michigan after 12 seasons with the Fighting Irish.

Washington, who turned down an offer to become Tennessee’s defensive coordinator last offseason, coached three players who were selected in the NFL Draft during his time in Columbus, including Malik Harrison in 2020 and Pete Werner and Baron Browning in 2021.

He also excelled on the recruiting trail, helping the program land commitments from five-star prospects C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles, as well as four-star Gabe Powers in the current cycle. However, his unit – and the defense as a whole – struggled this season, forcing head coach Ryan Day to make sweeping changes to his defensive staff.

Notre Dame’s staff, meanwhile, now includes a pair of former Ohio State linebackers in head coach Marcus Freeman and James Laurinaitis, whose role has not yet been announced, as well as its former linebackers coach in Washington. The Fighting Irish open the upcoming season on Sept. 3 against the Buckeyes in Columbus.

-----

Be sure to check out our new message boards, Buckeye Forums. We'd love to have you part of the conversation during the season.

-----

You may also like:

Building The Buckeyes Talks Omari Abor, Carson Hinzman, Hero Kanu And More

Ohio State Officially Adds Tim Walton, Perry Eliano To Defensive Coaching Staff

A Look At Ohio State’s Madden NFL 22 Campus Legends Roster

Ohio State DE Zach Harrison To Return For Senior Season

Ohio State Offers 2023 Dublin (Ohio) Coffman DL Will Smith Jr.

Former Ohio State WR Jameson Williams Declares For 2022 NFL Draft

-----

Be sure to stay locked into BuckeyesNow all the time!

Join the BuckeyesNow community!
Subscribe to the BuckeyesNow YouTube channel
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewMLind
Follow BuckeyesNow on Twitter: @BuckeyesNowSI

Like and follow BuckeyesNow on Facebook!