Report: Louisville DC Ron English, DL Coach Mark Hagen Not Returning

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A major shakeup is coming to the Louisville football program's coaching staff, and it doesn't involve head coach Jeff Brohm.

Defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ron English is "not expected back" for next season, and co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Mark Hagen "has been informed he will not return," according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Per Thamel, English told officials at Louisville that he would "like to step away for the year" so that he could watch his son, Seth, play his final football season at Navy.

Louisville finished this past season at 9-4 overall primarily thanks to English guiding their efforts on the defensive side of the ball. As of games played through Dec. 29, the Cardinals' 303.1 yards allowed per games ranks 17th in the FBS and second in the ACC, while their 21.2 points allowed per games came in at 37th and fifth, respectively.

As part of that success this past season, UofL also got good production out of their defensive line under Hagen. Defensive end Clev Lubin had a monster season, logging 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors, defensive tackle Rene Konga collected Second-Team All-ACC honors, while tackle Jordan Guerad and edge rushers Wesley Bailey and A.J. Green also posted good seasons.

English and Hagen both followed Brohm from Purdue after he took the Louisville head coaching job in 2023. The Cardinals had a very good first season on the defensive side of the ball, with their 317.1 yards and 21.3 points allowed per games ranking 21st and 33rd in the nation, respectively. This helped fuel the Cardinals to a 10-4 season, which included their first ever berth in the ACC Championship Game.

In year two under Brohm, Louisville's efforts on defensive took a step backwards. They gave up 368.7 yards and 24.1 points per game, which ranked 64th and 56th, respectively, in the FBS. Though the Cardinals still finished that season at 9-4, including wins over Clemson, Kentucky, and vs. Washington in the Sun Bowl.

With English and Hagen moving on, Brohm will now have to fill three spots on his assistant coaching staff. Earlier this month, tight ends coach Ryan Wallace left to become to co-offensive coordinator at Oregon State.

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