Notre Dame is in a full-blown crisis. And Marcus Freeman? Man, he’s feeling the heat like he’s standing in front of a flamethrower. The Irish just got rocked—losing key players, staff members, and even their own GM to rivals, the transfer portal, and the NFL. Every foundational pillar of Freeman’s program is shaking. But just when things were spiraling, a new move might be the lifeline he needs. Enter: 51-year-old Chris Ash.
Fox Sports’ RJ Young ain’t mincing words on this one: “This is a great hire for Marcus Freeman because, a, you have a guy in Chris Ash who knows how to coach a defense that wins the national championship.” He pointed straight to Ash’s Ohio State days in 2014, back when Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes ran through Alabama and Oregon like a bulldozer en route to the Natty.
Young didn’t stop there: “You also got a guy who’s got some head coaching experience—Chris Ash, who was head coach at Rutgers, but his last stop didn’t go so well. Greg Schiano took over. Seems like that’s the only place where Greg Schiano can coach; it’s the only place where Greg Schiano can win.” Let’s be real—Freeman didn’t just lose Al Golden to the Cincinnati Bengals. He lost three of his best offensive linemen, saw his GM Chad Bowden pack up for USC (for quadruple the money, by the way), and watched his defensive core take a hit. The man was drowning. But now? He’s tossing a Hail Mary with Ash, hoping they can restore the backbone of Notre Dame’s defense and stop the bleeding.
Look, Notre Dame had one of the best defenses in the country in 2024, giving up just 15.5 points per game. Only four teams did better—one of them being Ohio State, the same team that crushed their championship hopes in January. So, the big question is: can Ash maintain, or even elevate, what Golden built? Let’s see Chris Ash’s track record.
Marcus Freeman’s new defensive coordinator: Chris Ash
Days after Al Golden peaced out for the NFL, Notre Dame turned to another former college head coach to run its defense. ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news: Chris Ash, the former Rutgers head coach and longtime defensive guru, is officially the new sheriff in town.
Ash may not have had a stellar run leading Rutgers (8-33, yikes), but his defensive resume is no joke. He was the co-DC at Ohio State in 2014 when they cooked Bama and Oregon for the title. That season, the Buckeyes were physical, fast, and downright nasty on defense. Ash later had stops at Wisconsin, Arkansas, and spent time in the NFL, working with the Jaguars and Raiders. His last gig? A scout for Jacksonville in 2024. Now, he’s back in college football with a chance to revive Notre Dame’s defensive identity.
What’s interesting is that Ash has deep Big Ten ties. Which is crucial since Notre Dame still recruits heavily in that region. RJ Young broke it down: “He worked with Al Golden back in the day at Wisconsin. So, you got a man that is very familiar with the Big Ten and recruiting that area as much as that matters today… but also it doesn’t take up nearly as much of your time as roster management.” Translation? High school recruiting still matters, but in today’s transfer portal era, keeping your own squad intact is just as important. And Freeman desperately needs stability right now.
Ash is stepping into a war zone. Freeman lost key defensive pieces like Jack Kiser, Xavier Watts, and Rylie Mills. But he’s still got some heat left in the chamber with Drayk Bowen, Adon Shuler, and Jaiden Ausberry returning. The Irish can still be elite on defense, but Ash has to work fast. One thing is for sure: Freeman has no more room for mistakes. He’s already had to reshuffle his staff, and if this move doesn’t work? The noise about his job security is only going to get louder. For now, though, Chris Ash is here. The question is—can he turn the tide before it’s too late?
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