Chris Ash accepts Notre Dame defensive coordinator job

Former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash accepted the job as Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed the report.

“Sources: Chris Ash has accepted the job as the Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator,” Thamel wrote on Twitter. “Ash brings a blend of coordinating experience, NFL experience and high-end results as a collegiate coordinator. A deal is expected to be finalized in the near future.”

Ash was the head coach at Rutgers from 2016-2019, putting together an 8-32 overall record (including a 3-26 mark in the Big Ten) before he was fired. Ash then spent a year at Texas as defensive coordinator before heading to the NFL.

Ash spent 2021 as the safeties coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Urban Meyer‘s staff, before moving to the Las Vegas Raiders as defensive backs coach in 2022.

Ash has had several previous stints in college, including at Arkansas, Iowa State, Ohio State, Texas and Wisconsin. His coaching career began at Drake in 1997, when he served as a graduate assistant for a year before earning a promotion to defensive coordinator.

From there, Ash went to Iowa State, where he spent two years as a graduate assistant. He took over as full-time defensive backs coach from 2002-05, then added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2006.

Ash then spent two years at San Diego State (2007-08), bounced back to Iowa State (2009) for a year and finally ended up at Wisconsin (2010) as defensive backs coach. After a year with the Badgers he added defensive coordinator duties.

In 2013, Ash left for Arkansas as defensive coordinator. He would then link up with Meyer at Ohio State in 2014, winning a national title as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He spent just two years in Columbus before earning the Rutgers head coaching gig.

Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report