Report: Chris Ash emerges as strong candidate for Notre Dame defensive coordinator position

Following the departure of defensive coordinator Al Golden for the Cincinnati Bengals, Notre Dame appears to be honing in on a potential new hire: former Rutgers coach Chris Ash.

Pete Sampson of The Athletic reports that Ash has “emerged as a strong candidate” to be the next defensive coordinator in South Bend.

On3’s Pete Nakos reports there isn’t a top target yet in the Notre Dame coordinator search, and Ash has several NFL and defensive coordinator job opportunities this coaching cycle. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is expected to visit with several other defensive coordinator candidates this week.

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.

Chris 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, Chris 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, Chris 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.

Suffice it to say, should Notre Dame follow through with a hire it will get a well-traveled and experienced defensive coach.