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Notre Dame officially announces new defensive coordinator

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/16/22•

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Golden's most recent head coaching experience was for the Miami Hurricanes from 2011-15. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

It’s official. Al Golden is heading to South Bend.

Wednesday, Notre Dame announced Golden is taking over as defensive coordinator as the final hire to Marcus Freeman’s coaching staff. He makes the move after two years in Cincinnati as the Bengals’ linebackers coach.

“Al’s defensive background and knowledge of this profession makes him a valuable asset to our program,” Freeman said in a statement. “He is known for getting the absolute best out of his players both on and off the field. Additionally, he will be a great resource for me and others on our staff with his previous experience as a head coach. I am thrilled that he has joined our staff at Notre Dame.”

Terms of Golden’s deal weren’t disclosed, but ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Chris Low reported he’s signing a three-year deal.

During his coaching career, Golden worked as a head coach at Temple from 2006-10 and Miami from 2011-15 before taking the leap to the NFL. He also spent time as Virginia’s defensive coordinator from 2001-05 and is known as a talented recruiter. He had three straight top-20 recruiting classes while he was at Miami, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.

Freeman’s staff is now complete as he gets ready for his first season as a head coach. Notre Dame brought in a few more impressive names this offseason, including running backs coach Deland McCullough and reunited with offensive line coach Harry Hiestand.

The Fighting Irish are coming off an 11-2 season in 2021, including a Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State.

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Report: Notre Dame negotiating expanded deal with Al Golden

Notre Dame is hiring Al Golden as its new defensive coordinator. A new report sheds light on his contract.

Golden is preparing to sign a three-year contract to join Marcus Freeman’s staff, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Chris Low. Thamel added the deal might take a few days to finalize.

It’s the final piece to the puzzle for Freeman as he puts together his first staff at Notre Dame. Golden, a former head coach at Temple and Miami, is coming off his second season as Cincinnati Bengals linebackers coach. Now, he joins Freeman, who served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator last year under Brian Kelly. Kelly left for LSU this offseason, and Notre Dame promoted Freeman to replace him.

As a head coach, Golden had a 59-59 record at Temple and Miami. With the Hurricanes, he went 32-25 overall and 17-18 in ACC action, but was let go during the 2015 season after Miami lost to Clemson 58-0 — the most lopsided loss in program history.