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Report: Notre Dame set to name former ACC head coach as defensive coordinator

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/15/22•

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Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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.

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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.

More on Al Golden, Notre Dame

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.

He also worked for his alma mater, Penn State, in 2000 as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator under Joe Paterno. In fact, while he coached at Miami, Golden’s recruiting classes ranked No. 10, No. 15, No. 13 and No. 28 from 2012-15, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking.

He also helped work with the Cincinnati Bengals defense this past season as they rattled off a run to the Super Bowl on Sunday. That means he brings a blend of NFL and college experience to Freeman’s staff as he takes the head coaching reigns for the first time.