After defensive coordinator Al Golden accepted a position in the NFL, Notre Dame had a significant vacuum in their coaching staff; however, it seems the Fighting Irish have found a replacement.
Pete Sampson of The Athletic reported on Sunday that Chris Ash has emerged as a leading contender to take over as Notre Dame’s next defensive coordinator.
Ash, 51, works as a scout with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the moment. Before that, he was the defensive backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders and the safety coach for Jacksonville for a season.
However, Ash’s coaching expertise has mostly been at the university level. From 2016 until 2019, he served as Rutgers’ head coach. Additionally, Ash has served as a defensive coordinator for a number of collegiate programs, including Ohio State. Ash might end up with a similar situation in South Bend, where he served as co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2014 and 2015.
According to John Brice of FootballScoop, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman may prefer Chris Ash to serve as co-defensive coordinator alongside Mike Mickens, the Irish defensive backs coach and the team’s longest-tenured staff member.
During the 2024 college season, Notre Dame’s defense gave up just 15.5 points per game, enough for fifth place out of 134. In terms of points conceded in 2023, the team came in seventh place out of 134.
Golden recently accepted a position with an NFL team as their defensive coordinator.
Ty Chan, a former four-star prospect, declared on Monday that he would be joining the Huskies after two seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
For the Huskies, who have locked down a talented tackle with years of experience playing for one of the greatest programs in the nation and one of the best offensive lines, this is a major acquisition.
Chan, a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, is abandoning the runners-up for the national championship in order to play nearer to home. He provides the Huskies the prototypical size and strength at 6’5” and 320 pounds, so he should start right away.
Chan saw limited action as a freshman with the Irish in 2023, appearing in just two games. However, in 2024, he played in 12 games. Before beginning his college career, ESPN.com ranked him as the No. 222 overall prospect in the nation, the No. 23 offensive tackle, and the top recruit from Massachusetts.
According to 247Sports, Chan brings positional versatility, excelling at tackle while also being capable of playing guard. Their scouting report highlights his lateral quickness, athleticism, and flexibility. He plays on both sides of the ball, demonstrating strong hip mobility and explosive movement off the snap. His consistent hand placement, ability to drive defenders to create running lanes, and powerful initial punch make him a strong addition. Chan is also known for finishing blocks with a physical playing style.
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His commitment to UConn comes just four days after announcing his entry into the transfer portal on X. He joins former Brown lineman Hayden Bozich as the second offensive lineman to transfer to UConn during this cycle, bringing the program’s total transfer additions to 18.
Jim Mora’s team is on the rise, finishing the 2024 season with a 9-4 record—its best since 2007—capped off with a victory in the Fenway Wasabi Bowl under Mora’s leadership.
