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Chris Ash returns to college coaching for key DC vacancy, per report
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Chris Ash is reportedly returning to college football with the former Big Ten head coach expected to join the Notre Dame coaching staff under Marcus Freeman.
According to multiple reports, including ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Fighting Irish have agreed to terms with Ash to become the new DC. It will be Ash’s 5th stint as a power program DC, and Thamel cited NFL experience as appealing to Notre Dame. That aspect is not surprising with former DC Al Golden coming to South Bend after stints in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals before heading back to the Bengals as a DC.
This will mark Ash’s fifth stint as a power conference DC. Ash worked as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator on the school’s 2014 title team and has been part of four B10 titles. He’s coached four Top 25 defenses and players like Joey Bosa, Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 29, 2025
Ash’s first major DC stint came at Wisconsin under Bret Bielema before following Bielema to Arkansas in 2013. After just one season with the Razorbacks, Ash wound up at Ohio State on the staff of Urban Meyer, helping lead the Buckeyes to the 2014 national championship.
The longtime defensive assistant would go on to serve as the head coach at Rutgers from 2016-19, leading a disastrous tenure that saw the Scarlet Knights go 8-32 overall with just 3 conference wins in that time frame. He has since bounced around with various roles at Texas (including a DC stint) and time in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now, Ash will try and keep the impressive defensive results rolling for the Fighting Irish.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.