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Notre Dame officially announces key defensive assistant hire

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•01/25/22•

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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman made another big splash on Tuesday as he rounds out his coaching staff.

The Fighting Irish announced they’re bringing Al Washington aboard as defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator. He spent the last three years with Ohio State — Freeman’s alma mater.

“I have seen firsthand how talented Al Washington is as a coach,” Freeman said in a statement. “He is a great teacher and developer of his players on the field, but is just as impressive in how he goes about building great men off the field. On top of that, he is a passionate recruiter whose work in that area is going to help us compete for a national title.”

Washington played college football at Boston College from 2002-05 and jumped into coaching at Division III Rensselaer Poly Tech in 2007. He went to North Carolina State as a graduate assistant in 2008 before moving to Division II Slippery Rock from 2009-10 and FCS Elon in 2011.

Washington returned to Boston College in 2012 as assistant special teams coach and defensive line coach in 2012. He moved to running backs coach from 2013-15 before becoming defensive line coach again in 2016.

Cincinnati brought him on board in 2017 as defensive line coach where he worked by Freeman’s side when he was defensive coordinator. Washington left to become Michigan’s linebackers coach in 2018 before landing at Ohio State in the same role from 2018-21.

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More on Al Washington’s departure for Notre Dame

Washington takes over after Notre Dame’s previous defensive line coach, Mike Elston, departed to join the Michigan Wolverines’ coaching staff.

Nearly a year ago, Washington was offered the defensive coordinator job at Tennessee, according to Lettermen Row’s Austin Ward. Ultimately, Washington decided to remain with the Buckeyes.

This season, Ohio State’s defense ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten, allowing 366.6 yards per game. The Buckeyes also allowed 246.9 passing yards per game, which was the third worst total in the Big Ten. Following the season, Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Croombs was not retained. Now, it appears Washington will be leaving the Buckeyes as well.

Washington now joins Notre Dame’s staff, one that is looking to build upon a successful season. The Fighting Irish allowed 18.3 points per game this year, which was the ninth best total in the country. Notre Dame also allowed 127.8 rushing yards, 212 passing yards, and 330.8 total yards per game in 2021.