Report: Notre Dame negotiating expanded deal with new coordinator

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

Sources: Al Golden has accepted the job to become Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator. He’s agreed to a three-year deal, which may take a few days to finalize.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 15, 2022

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.

Report: Notre Dame set to name Al Golden as defensive coordinator

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman has his new defensive coordinator. Now, his staff is complete.

The Fighting Irish are expected to hire former Miami coach Al Golden as their new defensive coordinator, according to The Athletic’s Pete Sampson. ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Chris Low reported Golden is signing a three-year deal.

FootballScoop reported Monday Notre Dame had its sights set on Golden.

Golden will replace Freeman, who moved up to head coach after Brian Kelly departed for LSU. He spent the last two years as the Cincinnati Bengals’ linebackers coach.

Golden brings plenty of experience to the Notre Dame coaching staff. He worked as a head coach at Temple from 2006-10 and Miami from 2011-15 before taking the leap to the NFL. He also worked as Virginia’s defensive coordinator from 2001-05.

In the NFL, Golden worked for the Detroit Lions as tight ends coach from 2016-17 and linebackers coach from 2018-19. He just wrapped up his second season with the Bengals, which ended with a Super Bowl LVI loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

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.