Al Washington - DL Coach & Def. Run Game Coordinator

[BobbyMac]

Wiki Bio:

Notre Dame: Defensive Run Game Coordinator - DL Coach

Born: April 22, 1984 (age 37) Columbus, Ohio

Playing Career 2002-05 - Boston College

Defensive Tackle

Coaching Career 2007 - RPI (DL)

2008 - NC State (GA)

2009-10 - Slippery Rock (DL)

2011 - Elon (LB)

2012 - Boston College (asst. ST/DL)

2013-15 - Boston College (RB)

2016 - Boston College (ST/DL)

2017 - Cincinnati (DL)

2018 - Michigan (LB)

2019-21 - Ohio State (LB)

2022 - Present - Notre Dame (RGC/DL)

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1482774672169177090[/TWEET]
[TWEET]https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1482785353857708042[/TWEET]

 

[IrishLax]

Going to be the old man in the defense room at age 37.

 

[Free Manera]

Going to be the old man in the defense room at age 37.

Until Monte Kiffin gets there

 

[Wild Bill]

Know nothing about him but OSU LBers were dreadful last season.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Still think it's really weird to hire a DL coach before a DC, but perhaps it was a now-or-never situation since Georgia and Florida had offered him.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Still think it's really weird to hire a DL coach before a DC, but perhaps it was a now-or-never situation since Georgia and Florida had offered him.

I actually think it says a lot MF/Irish pick him up when Two SEC - one being the NC team and beats them out for him.

 

[Dale]

Still think it's really weird to hire a DL coach before a DC, but perhaps it was a now-or-never situation since Georgia and Florida had offered him.

Can you cite where he has offers on the table from those two?

 

[Prof K]

Know nothing about him but OSU LBers were dreadful last season.

Yes, but he just recruited Sonny Styles to OSU, Lorenzo Styles' younger and bigger brother. I wish we had him.

 

[NDIrish88]

As soon as this man sign he better be on a plane to see keon

 

[NDIrish88]

Question. If Ryan Day leaves does that mean all the recruits are let it out of there schollies?

 

[Grahambo]

Can you cite where he has offers on the table from those two?

Football Scoop said he was supposed to speak with Kirby Smart today about their outside linebackers position. I haven’t seen anything about FL.

 

[chisea03]

Still think it's really weird to hire a DL coach before a DC, but perhaps it was a now-or-never situation since Georgia and Florida had offered him.

In short, the picture was already painted but we had to wait on it to dry.

It wasn't a matter of hiring first or second...timing, money, contract terms, title...and then announcing... These hirings were in the making long before now but due diligence has to make an appearance. RB coach as well.

 

[317Irish]

I have a good feeling about this guy. I’ve seen the “OSU’s scraps…” comments a few times and I think others have explained that it’s not that simple.
OSU is getting next level recruits at a higher clip than us, so bringing in the coaches that were doing it for them is exactly what we need to be doing IMO. This is essential to getting ND over the hump

 

[irishog77]

Football Scoop said he was supposed to speak with Kirby Smart today about their outside linebackers position. I haven’t seen anything about FL.

Thanks for posting.

If true, that is not the same thing as an offer. And even IF an offer were to arise from the conversation, I would say DL/Run Game Coordinator title and salary under a guy you have worked with and know, several hours closer to home would be more enticing than OLB coach title and salary under a guy you don't know and haven't worked with, more hours and miles away from home.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Can you cite where he has offers on the table from those two?

ISD says so as well as various reporters on twitter. ISD: "Notre Dame beat out Georgia and Florida here. Big-time job by Freeman."

To expand to a question on timing ISD staff said it had to due with Washington being a hot commodity and that if ND didn't offer he was going to Georgia or Florida. Pretty clear he could be there if he wanted but he chose ND.

 

[IrishRazor82]

ISD says so as well as various reporters on twitter. ISD: "Notre Dame beat out Georgia and Florida here. Big-time job by Freeman."

To expand to a question on timing ISD staff said it had to due with Washington being a hot commodity and that if ND didn't offer he was going to Georgia or Florida. Pretty clear he could be there if he wanted but he chose ND.

To add to this, according to a 3rd staffer at ISD, "Georgia is not taking no for an answer".

This seems to now be a closed book for the good guys, but Georgia wanted him badly.

 

[BeauBenken]

To have this title makes me think that your head coordinator will be on board sooner than later as well.

 

[IrishRazor82]

This was Tuesday before Washington was hired. 32 seconds:

https://twitter.com/greg2126/status/1482775739271299072?t=HeAcUjZtB5Y9W6B6flnhyg&s=19

 

[Rockin’Irish]

This was Tuesday before Washington was hired. 32 seconds:

https://twitter.com/greg2126/status/1482775739271299072?t=HeAcUjZtB5Y9W6B6flnhyg&s=19

Prophetic!!!

 

[317Irish]

To add to this, according to a 3rd staffer at ISD, "Georgia is not taking no for an answer".

This seems to now be a closed book for the good guys, but Georgia wanted him badly.

Kinda makes me feel like there was a reason he preferred us to Georgia, or maybe just didn’t want to be at Georgia. I’m sure they would have been able to offer him more if they wanted him that badly

 

[chisea03]

Kinda makes me feel like there was a reason he preferred us to Georgia, or maybe just didn’t want to be at Georgia. I’m sure they would have been able to offer him more if they wanted him that badly

Georgia did offer more but its his relationship with Coach Freeman and how the have similar coaching philosophies and visions.

 

[Irish#1]

Know nothing about him but OSU LBers were dreadful last season.

from II

Washington was someone they wanted to keep on staff in some capacity but there simply was no room for him with a new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, as well as the fact that defensive line coach Larry Johnson wasn’t going anywhere.

 

[IrishRazor82]

This was Tuesday before Washington was hired. 32 seconds:

https://twitter.com/greg2126/status/1482775739271299072?t=HeAcUjZtB5Y9W6B6flnhyg&s=19

To quote Jamie/ISD for those without twitter: "Washington would be a lights out recruiter, immediate upgrade in recruiting (from Elston)".

 

[chisea03]

from II

ND recruiting and development will be upgraded across the board.
2 - 3 years of roster cleansing and reloading -----> scheme fits.

The days of just taking guys for the purpose of filling a roster changes. Every school, including Bama, takes 3* recruits but there will be an uptick in 4* and 5* studs. The new trend appears to be NFL experience wins, coaching swag, being likeable and willing to teach.

 

[Grahambo]

Kinda makes me feel like there was a reason he preferred us to Georgia, or maybe just didn’t want to be at Georgia. I’m sure they would have been able to offer him more if they wanted him that badly

Georgia was after him to be their outside linebackers coach, per Football Scoop. He was offered DL Line, which is his best position, and run game coordinator with from a coach he knows well.

 

[Rogue219]

Know nothing about him but OSU LBers were dreadful last season.

He had a first-team All-Big Ten linebacker in each of his first two seasons: Malik Harrison in 2019 and Pete Werner in 2020.

 

[317Irish]

Georgia was after him to be their outside linebackers coach, per Football Scoop. He was offered DL Line, which is his best position, and run game coordinator with from a coach he knows well.

Ah, got it. Thanks for the info!

 

[BobbyMac]

About OSU's LB's... I know everyone was down on them but Werner dreadful'd himself into the second round last year and I didn't see them a lot but when I did, Steele Chambers looked like a boss.

 

[T-Boone]

About OSU's LB's... I know everyone was down on them but Werner dreadful'd himself into the second round last year and I didn't see them a lot but when I did, Steele Chambers looked like a boss.

Plus he did more with Simon material than our LB coaches.

 

[arrowryan]

I’ll never forget when OSU had a LB covering Devonta Smith last year one on one lol