ND Defensive Coordinator search- 2025

[IrishSpartan]

This might not be for DC boys

 

[IrishLax]

If he’s co-DC with Mickens it’s the only way I can even stomach this.

 

[Giddyup]

Chris Ash, there’s a blast from the past. Not a fan of this hire.

 

[FWIrish4]

ISD saying that could be a really good situation if everything falls into place

As in we saved $2M/year and can now spend it on some defensive tackles?!

 

[IrishLax]

This might not be for DC boys

Oh thank god

 

[IrishTusker]

This might not be for DC boys

That makes it sound like Mickens isn't hanging around if he isn't DC. It says he is looking around at other options. So if someone else offers him a DC job, it sounds like he would leave to do that. If Freeman wants someone like Ash because he has play-calling experience, presumably that means the experienced coach would be the one calling the plays?

 

[notredomer23]

If this move is in the context of Mickens being promoted to the main DC, it’s extremely valuable for him to have this type of veteran presence on the headset with him. Not many guys with this type of experience would be willing to go into that role so I’m skeptical that’s the case, but he was out of a job for the last year so let’s wait and see how this plays out before we collectively wet ourselves

 

[FWIrish4]

That makes it sound like Mickens isn't hanging around if he isn't DC

Or Sampson threw out his tweet about Ash being the DC front runner without any actual context

 

[stlnd01]

I could see passing over Mickens to hire Knowles or even Leonhard, but I have a hard time imagining that Freeman would let an excellent coach with whom he has worked for years - and who is a big reason why Freeman came to Notre Dame in the first place - walk in order to hire a borderline-unemployed retread like Chris Ash. This has to be a co-DC situation.

 

[arndtjc]

He gone

 

[FDNYIrish1]

It’s Ashy.

He went from Ashy to Classy. We love you Big.
I remember him being a solid coach. Failed at Rutgers but who hasn’t? Amirite?

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

"Per sources, Ash shares the same agent, Clint Dowdle, as Freeman."

Thanks, I hate it. The agent gets Freeman a nice long contract extension so now he doesn't care if he has a down year because he'll make even more money getting his other client a job.

 

[IrishTusker]

Or Sampson threw out his tweet about Ash being the DC front runner without any actual context

I'm talking about John Brice's reporting.

He also says Leonhard doesn't want to leave the NFL, at least for now. There isn't much MF can do about that obviously.

 

[NDFAN2008]

This hire only makes sense if it’s coming in as co defensive coordinator I guess worst thing if he sucks fire him and freeman calls plays

 

[NDFAN2008]

ISD saying that could be a really good situation if everything falls into place

Good situation how or in what way

 

[IrishTusker]

Maybe make Mickens the DC with Ash replacing Mickens? Mickens walking would be very bad without a superstar hire

 

[RipWheeler]

He gone

Fucking hell

 

[FWIrish4]

I'm talking about John Brice's reporting.

He also says Leonhard doesn't want to leave the NFL, at least for now. There isn't much MF can do about that obviously.

There is absolutely no way Freeman hired Ash to be Co-DC to help Mickens without Mickens’ sign off. Mickens leaving after this would be disastrous

 

[RipWheeler]

There is absolutely no way Freeman hired Ash to be Co-DC to help Mickens without Mickens sign off. Mickens leaving after this would be disastrous

Yep, this is how you lose in the offseason.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

This hire only makes sense if it’s coming in as co defensive coordinator I guess worst thing if he sucks fire him and freeman calls plays

This makes a lot of sense……MF may have wanted a coach who would be Co-DC with Mickens which would give Mickens the training to take him to the next level and Ash is willing.

 

[PigtownIrish]

Seriously. If Mickens is ready (like MF said) then hire him. If he's not then make an actual big boy hire not from the unemployment line.

 

[stlnd01]

There is absolutely no way Freeman hired Ash to be Co-DC to help Mickens without Mickens’ sign off. Mickens leaving after this would be disastrous

From that Brice story it does not sound at all like a certainty that Mickens is staying. Which, yes, would be bad.

 

[IrishTusker]

MF told Mickens and Ash to talk on the phone. About what? Who is going to have which job? Work something out? MF needs to take control here.

 

[NDFAN2008]

It makes sense bringing in a previous head coach who’s got a little bit of history coaching many different positions as co defensive coordinator for a year or 2. But at the end of the day we are fucking ND we should have coaches lined up to come here. I get it maybe Mickens is okay with this. Would you
A. Bring in a head guy like Rossi and Mickens bounces.
Or
B. Bring in Ash to share Co defensive coordinator with Mickens
I’d pick B

 

[RipWheeler]

MF told Mickens and Ash to talk on the phone. About what? Who is going to have which job? Work something out? MF needs to take control here.

Amateur hour if true.

 

[Cpnd1]

Hopefully the conversation went well between Mickens and Ash today, and that the reason we are progressing with Ash is because it was productive

 

[stlnd01]

You almost wonder if the Ash hire is conditional on Mickens staying as a co-DC. And if Mickens doesn't go for it, we get back to shopping around for a stronger full DC.

 

[Giddyup]

Hire Peter Sirmon, Cal’s DC. He’s done good work with minimal talent.

 

[FOTY977]

If he’s co-DC with Mickens it’s the only way I can even stomach this.

Even then it feels a bit like a trust fall into the Grand Canyon

 

[NDRock]

Yep, this is how you lose in the offseason.

It’s what we do best