Al Golden

[IrishLax]

What you have to hope is that he's been grooming someone like Mickens for the DC job. Your good coordinators are always going to eventually leave for greener pastures. What you want is some sort of continuity (e.g. Elko -> Lea) to sustain success.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Me thinks Al Golden will be looking for college football head coaching job next year.

 

[Giddyup]

Lol. Talk about a bunch of wet blankets. As soon as one of our coordinators has a great season fans start looking for a new guy. Golden is 54, not sure he’s looking to lead a sub par college program. Maybe

 

[irishff1014]

Impressive!

 

[CanadalovesND]

Great coach, average recruiter.

If he wants to be a HC somewhere, he'll need to recruit if he wants his team to be competitive. Not sure he really has the juice to be a modern-day recruiter.

He's either a DC at ND or a DC in the NFL next season.

 

[irishff1014]

 

[CrystalHead]

Maybe Golden found the job he wants at ND. He did leave the NFL for ND and left a Super Bowl team who hasn't been the same since he left. He doesn't have to be a great recruiter at ND. He just needs to set the table by informing Freeman and staff who he wants and needs, hands out the scholarship and let's Freeman close the deal. He helps the closers in recruiting by putting one hell of a product on the field. Pay the man and make it hard to leave that scenario. I just don't think the NFL is the draw for him at this point.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Me thinks Al Golden will be looking for college football head coaching job next year.

Me thinks League.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Key will be holding USC under 24

Mission accomplished. Thank you Al.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Not a chance

In response to not holding $C to under 24? Say you’re sorry to Al please.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Well who knows. All these facts indicate he might stay;

1. Left NFL already for ND.
2. Freeman can close the Defense recruits.
3. Being the DC at ND is pretty prestigious.
4. The defense is going finally...

Factors why he might leave:

1. Mo money. Would ND up the ante to keep a solid DC?

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I'm not worried if he leaves. He's a solid DC but a horrific recruiter. If he's an A- level DC and a D level recruiter, I'd be totally fine with bringing in someone who is a B/B- level DC and a B/B- level recruiter.

Did you not read post 698, 724 or 726 w the passing stats for the D? What good is a good/great recruiter if you can’t coach them to any real level of proficiency and success on the field. I think Hairball is a bad recruiter as well but his results on the field speak for themselves.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Why would Al Golden want to be a college head coach again? Other than the fact that he's done it before and the money?

I'm sure someone is going to make an inquiry or two, but it would seem to me that if he's offered an NFL DC job he's going to take that over a Power Five HC job for the reasons so many here have stated. I get the impression that he's not up for recruiting in 2023 and beyond.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Well who knows. All these facts indicate he might stay;

1. Left NFL already for ND.
2. Freeman can close the Defense recruits.
3. Being the DC at ND is pretty prestigious.
4. The defense is going finally...

Factors why he might leave:

1. Mo money. Would ND up the ante to keep a solid DC?

Al golden was making $750k with the bengals, he's probably making around double that at ND. So clear financial benefit to go to ND.

As a College head coach he'll probably double what he's making at ND, or DC in NFL he'll make a similar amount. So the question is, would he prefer being a DC in the NFL or DC at ND for same $, or does he want to be HC again in college and make a good bit more money.

 

[ThePiombino]

In response to not holding $C to under 24? Say you’re sorry to Al please.

My apologies to Al.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Plankton]

Maybe Golden found the job he wants at ND. He did leave the NFL for ND and left a Super Bowl team who hasn't been the same since he left. He doesn't have to be a great recruiter at ND. He just needs to set the table by informing Freeman and staff who he wants and needs, hands out the scholarship and let's Freeman close the deal. He helps the closers in recruiting by putting one hell of a product on the field. Pay the man and make it hard to leave that scenario. I just don't think the NFL is the draw for him at this point.

Ehhhhhh......I don't agree with that. The Bengals made the AFC Championship last year, and lost on a last second field goal, and they are now starting to get things going offensively. They haven't had a huge loss defensively since he's left (in 2021, they were 17th in points allowed, and in 2022 they were 6th).

 

[Junkhead]

Maybe he wants to stay in SB for the weather!

 

[NDohio]

Ehhhhhh......I don't agree with that. The Bengals made the AFC Championship last year, and lost on a last second field goal, and they are now starting to get things going offensively. They haven't had a huge loss defensively since he's left (in 2021, they were 17th in points allowed, and in 2022 they were 6th).

Agree. Their defense didn't miss a beat after he left for ND.

The Bengals are the team that I am most concerned with though. I think I saw that his family still lives in Cinci while he is in South Bend. Add to that that the Bengals DC is talked about as a head coach in the NFL every year, I wouldn't be shocked to see Al as the Bengals DC in the near future.

 

[CrystalHead]

Ehhhhhh......I don't agree with that. The Bengals made the AFC Championship last year, and lost on a last second field goal, and they are now starting to get things going offensively. They haven't had a huge loss defensively since he's left (in 2021, they were 17th in points allowed, and in 2022 they were 6th).

Ok ok. I obviously was wrong on that part and don't follow the NFL as close as you lol. I do stand by my thoughts on he did leave that job for ND for a reason. What that is only he knows. I just don't think NFL is what he is looking for. If we do lose him I believe it would be more for college HC. Maybe it's the right scenario for him to have back up at ND in recruiting and just loves the college game and wants to stay where he's at. I hope. Plus he's due for a pay raise after this year if people come calling for him.

 

[irishff1014]

Maybe he likes it here at ND. The private university that he only has to do what they want him to do, his money isn't public knowledge, the positive environment, the tight knit community, the good quality athletes with limited off the field issues, and maybe he really likes Freeman.

I am sure I could go on and on and on. Maybe that's just my opinion of the university though.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Most people on the beat have hinted that they don't believe Al Golden will be at ND next year. That doesn't mean it's a guarantee and maybe Marcus does whatever he can to keep him but many think Al would go back east or try to jump to the NFL in an elevated role.

I wish he'd be a long term coach here because he is putting together a defense to be remembered. If he has aggressive assistants in recruiting, then he can do what he does best: coordinate.

We've been spoiled with good defensive hires as of late: Elko, Lea, Freeman, Golden -> Head Coach, Head Coach, Head Coach, ?

 

[forkbeard3777]

Most people on the beat have hinted that they don't believe Al Golden will be at ND next year. That doesn't mean it's a guarantee and maybe Marcus does whatever he can to keep him but many think Al would go back east or try to jump to the NFL in an elevated role.

I wish he'd be a long term coach here because he is putting together a defense to be remembered. If he has aggressive assistants in recruiting, then he can do what he does best: coordinate.

We've been spoiled with good defensive hires as of late: Elko, Lea, Freeman, Golden -> Head Coach, Head Coach, Head Coach, ?

Should Golden not be around for next season, I'd immediately go after Dave Aranda (presuming he doesn't survive this season). I'm not too sure why the HC job isn't working out at Baylor (he did have that one really good season), but he's a tremendous defensive mind. I think he would flourish at ND and would fit in very well with its culture.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

I think he came back to CFB for a reason. He probably has a bad taste in his mouth from the Miami debacle. There are other head coaches (ex. purple face) who don’t like recruting.

 

[NDohio]

I think Golden came back to college to be a DC again and rebuild his reputation after his failures as a head coach. He has done that and will most likely have options for where he wants to go next. My bet is NFL DC but wouldn't rule out a college HC job.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Should Golden not be around for next season, I'd immediately go after Dave Aranda (presuming he doesn't survive this season). I'm not too sure why the HC job isn't working out at Baylor (he did have that one really good season), but he's a tremendous defensive mind. I think he would flourish at ND and would fit in very well with its culture.

Can't hurt to ask. If he's not on the hot seat at Baylor, it's definitely warming up. I think it's a pretty good idea, honestly. P5 experience as a DC and is now on year four as a head coach. He could certainly point Marcus in the right direction and help him avoid any mistakes he made as a first time HC.

I think Golden came back to college to be a DC again and rebuild his reputation after his failures as a head coach. He has done that and will most likely have options for where he wants to go next. My bet is NFL DC but wouldn't rule out a college HC job.

I think he left the NFL for Notre Dame. He probably had chances to take other college jobs while with the Lions and Bengals.

If someone offered him an NFL DC job, I think he's going, and he could have multiple teams come at him when Black Monday rolls around in the NFL. Honestly, I take him on the Bears right away and they have a DC opening at the moment.

 

[DillonHall]

Someone (John Brice maybe?) matter-of-factly stated that Al Golden was being paid $2 million per year

 

[PutuporShutup]

Someone (John Brice maybe?) matter-of-factly stated that Al Golden was being paid $2 million per year

He definitely got a huge pay raise from lb coach with bengals… I heard $1.5M… $2M isn’t out of the question
He’s not going to get more in the nfl. So if he goes back to nfl it’s because he likes it there better. If he wants more money he’ll go be a head coach in college somewhere. I don’t think he’s cut out to be a head coach personally.

My bet is nfl dc because it fits his personality better

 

[stlnd01]

I’d bet NFL DC over college HC as well. For all the stated reasons. I’d also think (hope) there’s decent odds he has seen that grass and realizes it (and the money) is just as green at Notre Dame.

Either way, of course, the trouble with losing a coordinator on the NFL hiring cycle is many of the best replacements are already spoken for. That’s how you wind up hiring Parker. Better hope we can keep Mickens around into January, at least.

 

[Redbar]

I think NFL coordinators make more than most college coordinators.

 

[Lberry]

Should Golden not be around for next season, I'd immediately go after Dave Aranda (presuming he doesn't survive this season). I'm not too sure why the HC job isn't working out at Baylor (he did have that one really good season), but he's a tremendous defensive mind. I think he would flourish at ND and would fit in very well with its culture.

Agree. Would throw in Jim Leonard too. He allegedly recruits like Golden but I have to think a 30-some year old will be marginally more appealing to play for, if the effort is equal to Golden.