'Strong Candidate' Emerges in Notre Dame Search for New Defensive Coordinator

Former Rutgers coach has experience at multiple powerhouse college programs, as well as in the NFL

Rutgers football coach Chris Ash speaks during the media day availability Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | Thomas P. Costello via Imagn Content Services, LLC

According to Pete Sampson of The Athletic, a "strong candidate" has emerged in Notre Dame's search to replace Al Golden as defensive coordinator.

Despite the hopes of many, that candidate is not current Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens.

Instead it is former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash.

About Notre Dame DC Candidate Chris Ash

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. Ash is also a former defensive coordinator at Ohio State.

— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) January 27, 2025

Ash is 51 years old and has spent the last three decades in coaching that has included stints in both major college football and the NFL as well as being the head coach at Rutgers for four seasons.

Ash spent the start of his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Drake before making the leap to Iowa State. He spent one year at San Diego State as well before joining Bret Bielema's staff at Wisconsin. Ash spent four seasons with Bielema before joining Ohio State as co-defensive coordinator in 2014, a year the Buckeyes won the national championship.

Ash spent 2016-19 as Rutgers head coach but had little success in the role, going just 8-32 in his time.

He then joined the University of Texas staff as an analyst before becoming its defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Ash spent 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars before spending two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, but was a pro scout and not a coach for Jacksonville this past year.

Nick Shepkowski's Quick Thoughts

Nov 27, 2020; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator Chris Ash reacts after a late score in the fourth quarter by Iowa State Cyclones during NCAA college football game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. | American Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

I won't pretend to have sources that are telling me anything regarding if Ash (fi you do then my DM's are always open) is the guy or not but if he ends up being the choice there are a lot of commonalities between him and Al Golden when Golden took the job.

Ash brings head coaching experience that no other assistant coach on the staff has while he also was a longtime college guy who struggled as a head coach but had great success as a coordinator. Like Golden when hired in 2022, Ash would be going back to the college ranks after spending a few years in the NFL.

Perhaps most interesting of it is that a quick look at Ash's resume shows a guy who has spent the vast majority of his career working with defensive backs. It's one thing to be keying in on someone to run the defense over internal candidate Mike Mickens, but it's entirely another to pursue someone with such a background coaching defensive backs when Mickens is still employed.

Or is the thought that Mickens might be off to greener pastures soon?

Certainly, something to keep an eye on as we'll be monitoring this as it continues to develop.

More From Notre Dame on SI

2025 Notre Dame Football Off-Season Roster Tracker

Shane Gillis Wants to Help Notre Dame's NIL Arms Race

Notre Dame Set to Open 2025 Season at Old Rival on a Sunday Night

Ranking Notre Dame's 2024 Games by Satisfaction Level


Kirk Herbstreit Analyzes Notre Dame's Staying Power in College Football Ranks