ND Defensive Coordinator search- 2025

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

After thinking about it a bit

• Seems like Knowles and Leonhard just weren't options in the end for different reasons. As much as we'd like to, you can't just chloroform guys and have them coach your team
• Ash is a Cover 4 guy. As far as I know, most of our guys on staff are cover 1 robber, cover 3, and man guys. I suspect (but don't know) we struggled running two high safety looks, hence some of our problems with USC, the IU comeback, and OSU. I think sometimes you have to be able to cover with man, but other times you have to be able to play zone.
• I suspect we won't run Cover 4/2 deep, but my guess is with Watts going to the NFL we're going to need a lot more of it next year

This is a hire that can work, but Freeman's leadership is going to end up being the thing that makes it work.

Ash isn't a conservative traditional cover 4. Its not about dropping 4 players into deep zones. The system is actually much more like man coverage by the corners on most routes and the linebackers/nickel and safeties working together to bracket/pass off inside receivers. Its a system that works well with corners used to playing man, it covers up the traditional weaknesses of two high zones, and in general is a good complement to cover 1.

 

[Giddyup]

Ryan Nielson former DC for Falcons and Jags

 

[Dale]

Ash isn't a conservative traditional cover 4. Its not about dropping 4 players into deep zones. The system is actually much more like man coverage by the corners on most routes and the linebackers/nickel and safeties working together to bracket/pass off inside receivers. Its a system that works well with corners used to playing man, it covers up the traditional weaknesses of two high zones, and in general is a good complement to cover 1.

Chris Ash and Ohio State's Ongoing Struggle with Cover 4: Part II

So if Chris Ash's job is to properly install cover 4, what will it look like? Let's find out.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Breakdown: Ash’s quarters defense to bring fresh look to battered Texas defense

Despite coming off of a Sugar Bowl victory against Georgia from the year prior, Texas had a disappointing 8–5 campaign in 2019. It was clear that many of Texas’ struggles stemmed from the defense, and head coach Tom Herman appeared to agree as he fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando after...

thedailytexan.com

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Greg would be immune from criticism if he didn’t sniffle every 5 seconds

Thank you. Reminds me of that episode of Seinfeld when their accountant had an allergy that made him sniff all the time but Jerry thought he had a coke problem. Doesn’t he live in Cali? Allergies are minimal compared to the south.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Recent insider posts on 247 say Freeman had Ash in mind all along and had/has a good relationship with him. Sounds like it’s happening.

Leonhard was intrigued by coaching at ND but just doesn’t want to deal with the grind of college ball.

Sampson even alluded to your second point on the pod today. Seems like an NFL dude now.

Leonhard will still come up in coaching carousels for DC the same way Gruden came up in HC carousels.

 

[Terry Jillery]

Opposing offenses better Ash themselves why they even showed up against this defense. They will be Ash-amed they even showed up. Opposing offenses will get Ash-ma attacks.

 

[calvegas04]

I just want a DC that gives us a schematic advantage

 

[BoredIrish]

So pricks don't work as coaches at ND... Yet if Hiestand came back tomorrow, everyone would be celebrating???

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

So pricks don't work as coaches at ND... Yet if Hiestand came back tomorrow, everyone would be celebrating???

There is a difference between being a prick and coaching hard. It seems like so many people today don't understand that. They don't realize what hard coaching actually meant. It wasn't just being mean, yelling at players and belittling them. It was being angry when players didn't do what you knew they had in them and helping them to achieve it. It was being kind in understanding problems and defending your players from the outside, even if that is other coaches.

Players can take your shit if they can tell you actually give a shit. But if you don't actually give a fuck, then they will tell you to fuck off.

 

[NDWarrior]

I would hate for ND to lose this… Inside the Recruiting Mind of Mike Mickens

 

[T-Boone]

Tom Herman

 

[Giddyup]

Bo Pelini is the obvious answer. I think he’s had 5 yrs off so he should be fresh.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Lol.

They think Ash is a dick.... If they brought in Pelini.... Wow!

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Tom Herman

What about him?

 

[dublinirish]

Tom Herman

not sure South Bend has enough coke dealers and skrip clubs to satisfy his appetite

 

[GrangerIrish24]

not sure South Bend has enough coke dealers and skrip clubs to satisfy his appetite

no but the one we have has some of the hardest working pregnant women you will ever find

 

[Irish#1]

no but the one we have has some of the hardest working pregnant women you will ever find

You've got to love a lady that's dedicated to her profession.

 

[Hautian Domer]

Can someone seriously explain Ash’s recent trajectory? I’m being serious here. It doesn’t look like he’s innovative or up and coming.

2016-2019 Rutgers head coach

2020 Texas defensive coordinator and safeties coach

2021Jacksonville Jags safeties coach

2022-2023 Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs coach

2024 Jacksonville Jaguars scout

 

[Dale]

Can someone seriously explain Ash’s recent trajectory? I’m being serious here. It doesn’t look like he’s innovative or up and coming.

2016-2019 Rutgers head coach

2020 Texas defensive coordinator and safeties coach

2021Jacksonville Jags safeties coach

2022-2023 Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs coach

2024 Jacksonville Jaguars scout

OSU Co-DC > Rutgers HC - Fired

> Texas DC - Tom Herman was at OSU with him, Herman fired

> Jags Safeties - Urban Meyer was his OSU HC, Meyer fired

Basically he hitched to the OSU wagon once he was fired from Rutgers

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I would hate for ND to lose this… Inside the Recruiting Mind of Mike Mickens

Good read. Thank you for posting.

There is going to come a day, at one point or another, when he's gone. His ability to identify and develop cornerback talent to this point has been very remarkable. I don't know if that translates into him becoming a successful defensive coordinator and or head coach, but there is no question that at this moment he is very good at what he does.

If Marcus Freeman can manage the situation of having two Defensive Coordinators and those guys are willing to be a part of that arrangement, I say go for it.

 

[stpeteirish]

Can someone seriously explain Ash’s recent trajectory? I’m being serious here. It doesn’t look like he’s innovative or up and coming.

2016-2019 Rutgers head coach

2020 Texas defensive coordinator and safeties coach

2021Jacksonville Jags safeties coach

2022-2023 Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs coach

2024 Jacksonville Jaguars scout

He's a scout now?? What's that pay, 100K, give or take? We paid Golden 2.2 mill as DC. This is very confusing to me. Why aren't we looking at him as a position coach who might help Mickens call the defense. Why isn't this guy a DC somewhere?

 

[benneboy]

He's a scout now?? What's that pay, 100K, give or take? We paid Golden 2.2 mill as DC. This is very confusing to me. Why aren't we looking at him as a position coach who might help Mickens call the defense. Why isn't this guy a DC somewhere?

Do we know that's not the case? It seems like that's the intention.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

He's a scout now?? What's that pay, 100K, give or take? We paid Golden 2.2 mill as DC. This is very confusing to me. Why aren't we looking at him as a position coach who might help Mickens call the defense. Why isn't this guy a DC somewhere?

 

[PolishDomer]

Can someone seriously explain Ash’s recent trajectory? I’m being serious here. It doesn’t look like he’s innovative or up and coming.

2016-2019 Rutgers head coach

2020 Texas defensive coordinator and safeties coach

2021Jacksonville Jags safeties coach

2022-2023 Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs coach

2024 Jacksonville Jaguars scout

23-24- Assistant Barista Starbucks

 

[GrangerIrish24]

You've got to love a lady that's dedicated to her profession.

Just building a better future for those kids

 

[FU BK]

no but the one we have has some of the hardest working pregnant women you will ever find

And he could head south on 31 to the hugger in kokomo and watch childbirth on the main stage if he's into that

 

[GrangerIrish24]

And he could head south on 31 to the hugger in kokomo and watch childbirth on the main stage if he's into that

My eyes have seen some things there.... that place will change you

 

[FU BK]

My eyes have seen some things there.... that place will change you

Yup....i wonder if Cinnamon tightened back up and was back at it the next week. Cant miss the holidays. She even gave her son the middle name of hugger since he was born in there...lol

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Yup....i wonder if Cinnamon tightened back up and was back at it the next week. Cant miss the holidays. She even gave her son the middle name of hugger since he was born in there...lol

"when you're here, you're family"

 

[dankgesang]

Yup....i wonder if Cinnamon tightened back up and was back at it the next week. Cant miss the holidays. She even gave her son the middle name of hugger since he was born in there...lol

What, and I cannot stress this enough, the fuck is going on in this thread