ND Defensive Coordinator search- 2025

[zbikowski88]

Why can’t Freeman call plays with Mickens for a year then give him the full time DC gig after?

 

[Hautian Domer]

Mickens not being ready to take over all DC duties, but still being an elite, irreplaceable assistant, is really what's screwing us here

Mickens has to get the "Co-DC" title along with a raise. That's how you keep him. That, and persuading him that it's in his best interest to stay and continue to learn, build, and recruit for the next couple of years.

 

[Dale]

Mickens not being ready to take over all DC duties, but still being an elite, irreplaceable assistant, is really what's screwing us here

Comp is Trav Robinson potentially. Long time successful DBs coach. Tried his hand at South Carolina as DC, wasn’t great (even though produced NFL DBs still). Went to Alabama now Georgia DBs afterwards.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

Why can’t Freeman call plays with Mickens for a year then give him the full time DC gig after?

Cause DC's have to game plan all week, watch game film and implement. It would be a disaster because MF has a tough job already.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Cause DC's have to game plan all week, watch game film and implement. It would be a disaster because MF has a tough job already.

Not saying I want him to, but Kirby Smart does it and makes it work.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Mickens has to get the "Co-DC" title along with a raise. That's how you keep him. That, and persuading him that it's in his best interest to stay and continue to learn, build, and recruit for the next couple of years.

If Rossi is the guy, it’s also better for Mickens to continue to learn what it means to be a DC. I understand he had that with Golden, but a new DC can mean new philosophies, new tendencies, and just in general, more knowledge. The more information, both in theory and application, the better it could be for Mickens in the long run.

 

[calvegas04]

Loy casually dropping in and saying that Ash is also considering a role with Jags.

Prayer thread?

Rossi

Rossi

247sports.com

Great now we can't land a unemployed HS teacher

 

[rtrn2glory]

I'm trying really hard to not get the Gerard Parker end result vibes

 

[Dale]

It sounds like Rossi is far down the pecking order. Simply a name that a poster randomly mentioned.

Sampson said the list he was told was: Ash, Leonhard, Rossi and Haines

That would leave Rossi after Ash

Leonhard turned down and Haines has gotten two bumps/extensions this winter

 

[NDFAN2008]

Make Washington and Mickens co defensive coordinators and higher another assistant and call it a day

 

[NDRock]

Make Washington and Mickens co defensive coordinators and higher another assistant and call it a day

You think Chansi Stuckey could coach defense?

 

[notredomer23]

Sampson said the list he was told was: Ash, Leonhard, Rossi and Haines

That would leave Rossi after Ash

Leonhard turned down and Haines has gotten two bumps/extensions this winter

 

[IrishSpartan]

What about Phil Parker from Iowa

 

[notredomer23]

What about Phil Parker from Iowa

Hard to imagine he'd entertain anything as long as Ferentz is there given his 26 year tenure.

 

[thekid33]

We are Notre Fucking Dame.

We are the most established, traditional and also hottest and modern brand in the game.

People should be beating down the door for this job and money should be no expense to beat what their current school or NFL team is offering them to stay.

I don't get it.

 

[OhioIrish]

Classic mental games. People want and pursue what they can’t have. Tell a really hot girl she looks like a girl you dated but didn’t call back and subconsciously she will try to win your approval

Yikes! Do you also target them
for Shermination?

 

[FU BK]

We are Notre Fucking Dame.

We are the most established, traditional and also hottest and modern brand in the game.

People should be beating down the door for this job and money should be no expense to beat what their current school or NFL team is offering them to stay.

I don't get it.

Gerrard Porker said hello...lol

 

[MacIrish75]

I would like to throw my hat in the ring. I would be fine with a co—DC title and I have three years varsity experience at a marginally successful 1A school in Indiana as well as four years as a wildly successful junior high head coach. Like Chris Ash, I also have taken a brief leave of absence from coaching—mine spanning 7 years—until I returned this fall as the HC of the U6 Bengals in the Y (no, not that Y) youth football league.

I would like to negotiate unlimited Monster and Miller Lite into my contract, as I feel my football acumen peaks under the influence of one or the other.

 

[Hautian Domer]

We are Notre Fucking Dame.

We are the most established, traditional and also hottest and modern brand in the game.

People should be beating down the door for this job and money should be no expense to beat what their current school or NFL team is offering them to stay.

I don't get it.

I agree, but we do have certain challenges that other schools don’t have. Just for recruits, it’s almost a three layered approach/hurdle for recruits:

(1) Getting players that can qualify;
(2) If they can qualify, are they wanting to or willing to challenge themselves, both academically and spiritually (remember, some
guys just want to play football and school is secondary);
(3) Can they endure South Bend and the small community of Notre Dame, Holy Cross, and St. Mary’s (some guys want the big state school or party school experience).

Coaches likely understand these challenges and maybe don’t want to undertake it. We’ve got a shit ton of positives to offer, including deep pockets, but we can’t ignore our challenges that Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, Florida State and the likes don’t face.

Our student athletes are just that. Student athletes. We’re largely different.

 

[Giddyup]

Greg Gasparato DC/Safeties at Tulane. He’s had some good statistics the past couple years.

 

[Dale]

Honestly the biggest reason a DC may not jump at ND to me is most coaches are ego maniacs.

You’re A) under a defensive head coach B) can’t hire any staff C) have nothing to fix

There’s a humbling aspect almost to mainly just being a play caller.

 

[FWIrish4]

If Mickens really to be a DC and it’s not ND, his best bet is to stay at ND and see what opens next year at a Big 12, lower ACC/Big Ten level.

Feel like the alternative to ND is the NFL currently which likely delays the process and doesn’t give you any better odds of landing a DC job soon

Who even has a DC opening at the lower levels right now that Mickens has a shot at?

If he’s leaving for a promotion, NFL DB coach is the only way that happens, right?

 

[mrmcgrail]

The issue too is who do you hire right now? I am trying to think of a name where you are like we have to get him. Rossi is good but he isn't some slam dunk massive hire and especially when the staff is going to stay in place. Just not a lot of options

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Make Washington and Mickens co defensive coordinators and higher another assistant and call it a day

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

Rossi and no Mickens vs Ash and Mickens - Yuck

Can't imagine Rossi taking a CO-DC title. Idk how you keep Mickens then, would be tough.

At Minnesota, Rossi was the DC, but every year other than his first year he had a co-DC who was either a CB or S coach.

 

[stlnd01]

The issue too is who do you hire right now? I am trying to think of a name where you are like we have to get him. Rossi is good but he isn't some slam dunk massive hire and especially when the staff is going to stay in place. Just not a lot of options

Yep.
Despite what should on paper be an absolutely desirable job with a nearly unlimited budget for salary, there are no clear outside candidates who we would want.
It has been radio silence for 48 hours since a generally undesirable candidate's name was reported by the beat, which is a long time for this sort of thing to go unresolved.
Meanwhile the best inside candidate is either twisting in the wind or shopping himself around (but where? as there really aren't any good jobs out there for Mickens either).
What a weird situation.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I love the idea of people potentially being upset that Ash turns us down after being upset that Ash was our target

It's mind blowing

 

[Giddyup]

Give Mike Zimmer a call. That young man needs a job for a couple years.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Give Mike Zimmer a call. That young man needs a job for a couple years.

Don Zimmer would be a better choice.

 

[NDPhilly]

Just thinking about their relationship, how pissed is Mickens that he just wasn’t promoted as soon as Knowles said no? I mean, if I was him, I certainly wouldn’t be happy After how my Position group has performed over the last few seasons.