ABC 57

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It appears Marcus Freeman has found his man.  Reports began to spread Wednesday afternoon that the new Notre Dame Football Defensive Coordinator will be former Rutgers Head Coach Chris Ash. 

Ash's resume includes one rocky head coaching job with the Scarlet Knights, and a long list of defensive coordinator stints with Texas, Ohio State, and Arkansas. 

As head coach at Rutgers from 2016-19, Ash went 8-32 overall and 3-26 in the Big Ten. He was fired four games into the 2019 season.

Ash has also spent time in the NFL as the safeties and defensive backs coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Al Golden, who was defensive coordinator from 2022-2024 under Marcus Freeman, led the Irish defense on a national championship run in 2024/25.  He was announced as the new defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 23.