ND Defensive Coordinator search- 2025

[Huntr]

1) brought in by Urban Meyer to be Co-DC with Fickell.
2) takes Rutgers job for $11 million, gets canned
3) hired by Texas' Tom Herman (OC at OSU when he was there), Herman and staff get canned.
4) goes to NFL as DB coach, canned when new staff was brought in

Nothing there screams "bad coach." It sounds like Freeman is getting recommendations from Tressel and Fickell that Ash is a legit Co-DC option.

Typically, a coach good enough in the eyes of Tressel, Fickell, and Meyer is good enough for big time FBS football.

Does that mean he's a good fit for ND? I don't know. But some posters are acting like he's an unemployable bottom-of-the-barrel fringe-HS coach, and that's not what I see here.

Massive difference btwn hiring him as DC vs Co-DC, tho

 

[Dale]

I really have no issue if it’s Mickens + Ash.

If it was reported in this order: Mickens elevated to Co-DC. Ash hired to coach safeties and Co-DC, I don’t think most would have an issue either.

The issue that remains as we wait, is if it’s Ash and Mickens walks, that’s a disaster. And it seems like Ash has come first, Mickens second in priority.

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

If you want to see only the upside with the hire, I would say that it is that his favored scheme of a pattern matching press quarters fits well with our personnel and that he has probably never had the caliber of corner that can lock down a receiver that he will have here as long as Mickens stays. That means that he should be able to do better here than he was able to do anywhere else.

I'd also say that his scheme is a good changeup from what Golden was running. It still allows us to use our awesome corners in a largely man role and can keep the LBs around the line to threaten the blitz, but it also is a total change for a QBs passing reads. And Ash seems to have experience with mixing schemes because I think Ohio State still ran cover 3 a lot. So hopefully he would be able to (and help Mickens to) mix and match between cover 1 and quarters to fit our opponent.

 

[SoIll]

My college roommate is as big of an OSU fan as they come, said Ash made the DB calls within Fickell's defense. Ash drastically improved DB play during his time at OSU, and OSU fans were sad to see him leave for Rutgers.

which is great, but he and Mickens both have the same "niche". Not sure 2 DB coaches as co-dc is the play.

 

[IrishLax]

1) brought in by Urban Meyer to be Co-DC with Fickell.
2) takes Rutgers job for $11 million, gets canned
3) hired by Texas' Tom Herman (OC at OSU when he was there), Herman and staff get canned.
4) goes to NFL as DB coach, canned when new staff was brought in

Nothing there screams "bad coach." It sounds like Freeman is getting recommendations from Tressel and Fickell that Ash is a legit Co-DC option.

Typically, a coach good enough in the eyes of Tressel, Fickell, and Meyer is good enough for big time FBS football.

Does that mean he's a good fit for ND? I don't know. But some posters are acting like he's an unemployable bottom-of-the-barrel fringe-HS coach, and that's not what I see here.

Nothing screams bad coach... except Arkansas being legit terrible on defense while he was there (and doing a 180 once he left), Texas not improving once he was hired, having only DFEI top 10 defense his entire career and that being co-DC at Ohio State, etc.

We'll know by the end of Week 2 whether this is a BVG level hire or something better, impossible to prognosticate at this point. Only thing I care about is keeping Mickens.

 

[Dale]

Hard to care what his defense was like in one year at Arkansas a decade ago, it also presumably got him the job at Ohio State so he did something right

Seems like he followed Bielema from Wisconsin to Arkansas and then voluntarily left. Which I mean the Bielema Arkansas era was pretty bad, that proved to be a smart decision

 

[FOTY977]

Elko
Lea
Freeman
Golden

Elite line of succession and not all were obvious hires. I trust this will continue, until it doesn't.

One of these things is not like the others.

Elko had a good track record at both BG and WF at his two most recent stops before ND. Experience calling plays. Wasn’t the sexiest name, but a strong resume without glaring issues. Funny enough, a lot of people were calling for Clawson, this man’s boss, to replace Kelly during and after the 2016 disaster.

Lea represented continuity from Elko’s staff and scheme that had a track record of success at now 3 stops—2 above + ND. Inexperienced calling plays, but that defense returned 10 starters YoY so had the benefit of a cohesive unit to help him grow into the role.

Freeman was the hottest name on the board, and we outbid LSU for him. There were murmurs that it was really Fickell’s defense propping Freeman up, but he still fielded a great unit and we know where we are today.

Golden is the closest to Ash ick (and it’s not even close at all) in that he had a patina of failure from Miami on him (we all know the mitigating factors, but this was the gut reaction at the time). His track record of HC experience, success at deadest of dead Temple, experience calling plays, NFL experience, that all contrasted and ballasted Freeman well. Wasn’t on a lot of lists since had been an NFL guy for years, but fit a lot of the needs and wants at the end of the day.

I hope this is nothing other than holding Mickens clip board. One good season at OSU ten years ago and one half a season turnaround at Texas being the best things you can say about him, I don’t get warm and fuzzies. His time at Wisconsin is hard to read for me—2011 they let up crazy points to anyone with a pulse but also had Wilson so their offensive philosophy was different and scoring more/giving the ball back more. 2012 they were a little more stout in PPG but played more of the traditional Wiskyball with the 3 headed monster of running backs, just lost some stinkers.

Really pray it works out, but I don’t see identity of success, continuity, or generally winning traits & track record that the rest of the list showed in a greater proportion than their blemishes.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Nothing screams bad coach... except Arkansas being legit terrible on defense while he was there (and doing a 180 once he left), Texas not improving once he was hired, having only DFEI top 10 defense his entire career and that being co-DC at Ohio State, etc.

We'll know by the end of Week 2 whether this is a BVG level hire or something better, impossible to prognosticate at this point. Only thing I care about is keeping Mickens.

Well, the dismantling of Rutgers' program was an all-timer. I would really prefer to think that was a personnel rather than a coaching issue because he will only be asked to do one of those things in South Bend.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Mickens will start the day at Gorman with about half the staff (including Freeman) but is unaccounted for rest of day

Notre Dame Coaches on the Road - January 27

Irish Illustrated has the latest edition of Coaches on the Road, tracking Irish staffers who are traveling nationwide to meet with top recruits.

247sports.com

We’re about to kill the goose that laid the golden egg aren’t we

 

[SoIll]

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/103055

ISD says players loved him and speak highly of him.

Some Thoughts on Ash as DC

Some Thoughts on Ash as DC

247sports.com

Prister gives a different light

"My greatest concern with Chris Ash at Notre Dame is a fit for the culture. Ash grew up coaching as the bad guy/tough guy in the image and likeness of Urban Meyer. He's had a prick coaching style"

''Ash needs to humble himself and realize that he'll be dealing with bright, articulate, thoughtful student-athletes."

 

[FOTY977]

We’re about to kill the goose that laid the golden egg aren’t we

Let’s hope he’s not eating burnt ends at any recruits houses.

 

[Dale]

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/103055

ISD says players loved him and speak highly of him.

Some Thoughts on Ash as DC

Some Thoughts on Ash as DC

247sports.com

Prister gives a different light

"My greatest concern with Chris Ash at Notre Dame is a fit for the culture. Ash grew up coaching as the bad guy/tough guy in the image and likeness of Urban Meyer. He's had a prick coaching style"

''Ash needs to humble himself and realize that he'll be dealing with bright, articulate, thoughtful student-athletes."

Disclaimer: Prister is fully on tilt

 

[IrishLax]

One of these things is not like the others.

Elko had a good track record at both BG and WF at his two most recent stops before ND. Experience calling plays. Wasn’t the sexiest name, but a strong resume without glaring issues. Funny enough, a lot of people were calling for Clawson, this man’s boss, to replace Kelly during and after the 2016 disaster.

Lea represented continuity from Elko’s staff and scheme that had a track record of success at now 3 stops—2 above + ND. Inexperienced calling plays, but that defense returned 10 starters YoY so had the benefit of a cohesive unit to help him grow into the role.

Freeman was the hottest name on the board, and we outbid LSU for him. There were murmurs that it was really Fickell’s defense propping Freeman up, but he still fielded a great unit and we know where we are today.

Golden is the closest to Ash ick (and it’s not even close at all) in that he had a patina of failure from Miami on him (we all know the mitigating factors, but this was the gut reaction at the time). His track record of HC experience, success at deadest of dead Temple, experience calling plays, NFL experience, that all contrasted and ballasted Freeman well. Wasn’t on a lot of lists since had been an NFL guy for years, but fit a lot of the needs and wants at the end of the day.

I hope this is nothing other than holding Mickens clip board. One good season at OSU ten years ago and one half a season turnaround at Texas being the best things you can say about him, I don’t get warm and fuzzies. His time at Wisconsin is hard to read for me—2011 they let up crazy points to anyone with a pulse but also had Wilson so their offensive philosophy was different and scoring more/giving the ball back more. 2012 they were a little more stout in PPG but played more of the traditional Wiskyball with the 3 headed monster of running backs, just lost some stinkers.

Really pray it works out, but I don’t see identity of success, continuity, or generally winning traits & track record that the rest of the list showed in a greater proportion than their blemishes.

Elko, Leonard, etc. are quintessential "more with less" kind of guys. Lea was a gamble based on being smart + keeping continuity with what Elko was doing. Generally when looking for a coordinator people target experience or upside. Elko was an upside guy based on teams over-performing their talent level. People generally judge you as a DC based on results vs talent... for example, Knowles went 76th -> 40th -> 9th -> 2nd at Oklahoma State despite having very little NFL talent. The screams "this guy can get the most out of what he has to work with."

Sometimes guys with elite resumes ... like legendary Monte Kiffin going to USC ... end up being total busts. You never know about fit. Ash could be great. But you're handing the keys to a team that was top 5 in DFEI two years in a row to a dude that has NEVER led a top 5 unit; never shown year-over-year improvement at any spot for 3+ seasons because he's never stuck around long enough to track that kind of info; hasn't been a DC since getting fired at this last job; etc. etc.

So if you aren't hiring on resume and you aren't hiring on continuity then you better be getting someone you believe has some other tangible / intangible that will lead you to success and literally no one has been able to cogently say what that is yet.

 

[FOTY977]

Motion to formally title his thread “Chris Ass - Defassive Buttordinator” until proven otherwise on the field.

Will accept “Assman” as an alternative

 

[317Irish]

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/103055

ISD says players loved him and speak highly of him.

Some Thoughts on Ash as DC

Some Thoughts on Ash as DC

247sports.com

Prister gives a different light

"My greatest concern with Chris Ash at Notre Dame is a fit for the culture. Ash grew up coaching as the bad guy/tough guy in the image and likeness of Urban Meyer. He's had a prick coaching style"

''Ash needs to humble himself and realize that he'll be dealing with bright, articulate, thoughtful student-athletes."

You would think getting fired every year or so would go a long ways towards this…

 

[Katzenboyer]

The thing that jumps out about me from Jamie's thoughts on ISD is the Texas defensive stats.

Yes, they were 27th in YPP and 40th in DF+ in Ash's sole year. But Texas was terrible the year before. 98th in YPP.

That's a significant improvement, and the pure numbers from Ash's part doesn't tell the whole story.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think Elko and Freeman were in fairly decent demand when Kelly hired them. Lea not so much at the time. Golden not so much when Freeman hired him.

I've built up Lukabu in my own mind for the last few days but I can't see that happening now. Vrabel interviewed him for Pats DC and Terrell Williams ended up getting it. The only NFL opening right now is the Jets.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Props to Jim Knowles for having a fiance at that age...and being old/ wise enough to have her live about 850 miles away so he can live in peace and quiet after work.

Update: Jim Knowles got a nice pay raise and moved a few hundred miles further away from his fiance

 

[dublinirish]

The thing that jumps out about me from Jamie's thoughts on ISD is the Texas defensive stats.

Yes, they were 27th in YPP and 40th in DF+ in Ash's sole year. But Texas was terrible the year before. 98th in YPP.

That's a significant improvement, and the pure numbers from Ash's part doesn't tell the whole story.

tbf also Rutgers were a mess when he took over there. Not that he made them any better but still it was a desperate situation

 

[Katzenboyer]

"My greatest concern with Chris Ash at Notre Dame is a fit for the culture. Ash grew up coaching as the bad guy/tough guy in the image and likeness of Urban Meyer. He's had a prick coaching style"

''Ash needs to humble himself and realize that he'll be dealing with bright, articulate, thoughtful student-athletes."

If there's one thing I would feel okay about with the hire, it's Freeman making sure that Ash's "tone" measures up with Freeman's culture/program.

I just don't think he's going to tolerate Ash being an asshole all the time, if that's in fact who he is. 0% chance of that happening.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Schiano is 94-100 at Rutgers all time in two stints. He has the most wins of any HC that program has ever had. Someone called Frank R. Burns was there from 1973-1983 and managed 78 wins.

Ash going 8-32 at Rutgers as a head coach should not be a shock to anyone. Kyle Flood replaced Schiano after having been an assistant for him for 6 years. Their program was not good off of the field under Flood and had police blotter incidents.

He took on a tough task and failed.

 

[GATTACA!]

Give me Ed O. You want ND to have swag again? Ed O fucks.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Just catching up but I find it hysterical Prister calling someone a prick. That guy is tough to listen to.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I still remember when guys like Todd Orlando and Alex Grinch were all the rage. I had to look up where each one of them is now.

Timing, luck and nuance play into these things. Whoever this hire ends up being, they're coming into a program with the arrow pointing up and a secondary that's absolutely going to be banging in 2025.

 

[Hautian Domer]

Give me Ed O. You want ND to have swag again? Ed O fucks.

This is very true. He would not blend in well with Notre Dame's culture and administration, but a Co-DC role with him and Mickens (with Freeman oversight) would be unbelievable. Coach O knows defensive line play. Freeman knows LB play. Mickens knows secondary play. All can recruit and develop at an elite level. That defense would be nasty! We'd make Miami look like choirboys.

 

[Huntr]

Update: Jim Knowles got a nice pay raise and moved a few hundred miles further away from his fiance

👑

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Give me Ed O. You want ND to have swag again? Ed O fucks.

I’d pay greatly to listen to him sing the fight song

 

[GATTACA!]

This is very true. He would not blend in well with Notre Dame's culture and administration, but a Co-DC role with him and Mickens (with Freeman oversight) would be unbelievable. Coach O knows defensive line play. Freeman knows LB play. Mickens knows secondary play. All can recruit and develop at an elite level. That defense would be nasty! We'd make Miami look like choirboys.

We'd also raid BKs cupboards in LA which would please me greatly.

 

[Free Manera]

Prister submitted a post that literally called Ash a prick and bad culture fit. Prister proceeds to get mad at every poster that says "why is ND is about to hire a prick that is a bad culture fit? seems like a bad idea."

That place is off the rails.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Well, the dismantling of Rutgers' program was an all-timer. I would really prefer to think that was a personnel rather than a coaching issue because he will only be asked to do one of those things in South Bend.

Update: Jim Knowles got a nice pay raise and moved a few hundred miles further away from his fiance