Newsstand: Notre Dame graduate assistant takes job at Western Illinois
Notre Dame graduate assistant Ashton Derico has accepted the defensive line coach job at Western Illinois, the Leathernecks announced Tuesday. Derico worked with the defensive line in South Bend.
Prior to joining the Fighting Irish coaching staff, Derico was a defensive line assistant at Wester Virginia from 2021-22 and a graduate assistant at Troy from 2020-21.
Working under Irish defensive line coach Al Washington in 2023, Derico helped the front four become one of the most effective units in the country. In particular, defensive tackle Howard Cross III was named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and a second-team All-American by four different outlets.
“Ashton has worked under two of the top defensive line coaches in the country over the past three years and was an excellent player at the position,” Western Illinois head coach Joe Davis said. “His intricate involvement in the development of the defensive line room at two different power four programs was attractive to us as we vetted candidates. Most importantly, Coach Derico will be an outstanding mentor and teacher within the program and create an excellent experience for our student athletes.”
Top 10
- 1Hot
CFP Top 25
First College Football Playoff rankings
- 2
NIL concerns
Mark Stoops says player would 'give the money back'
- 3
Heisman campaign
Travis Hunter makes case to lift Heisman Trophy
- 4
CFP bracket
12-team bracket after first CFP Top 25
- 5
PSU over Tennessee
CFP chairman explains decision
The Irish still have one defensive assistant: Nick Sebastian, who also works primarily with the defensive line.
Notre Dame Tweets of the day
It’s a big month for Notre Dame hockey, whose NCAA Tournament fate could go either way.
Junior forward Maddy Westbeld had a great game Sunday for the Irish.
The Irish have an intriguing cornerback visitor next month.
Quote of the day
“When I heard about the opening, my agent asked me, ‘Is this something you want?’ I said, ‘It’s Notre Dame. How could you not?’ I’ve been fortunate to do a lot of great things in my career, but to ultimately be a part of a program that has history and the legacy that Notre Dame does, it was a no-brainer.”
— Notre Dame director of football performance Loren Landow
Headlines of the day
- Three thoughts on Fighting Irish offering top 150 CB Trystan Haynes
- Why strength coach Loren Landow is a good fit for Notre Dame football
- Where Notre Dame women’s basketball stands in ESPN’s NCAA Tournament Bracketology
- Why Notre Dame women’s basketball is ‘trending in the right direction’
- Top 150 recruit Trystan Haynes of Oklahoma details excitement behind Fighting Irish offer
- What’s next on the Fighting Irish D-line board after C.J. May’s decommitment?
- What we learned about Riley Leonard in every Duke start: No. 14 — UCF 2022
- Fighting Irish signee Kate Koval named Naismith Player of the Year semifinalist
- What transfer WR Jayden Harrison can add to Fighting Irish offense
- What to know about Notre Dame men’s basketball at Duke
- Lucky Charms: Four-star cornerback schedules spring Notre Dame visit
- Why Irish OL Styles Prescod advocates for in-state recruits to play for the Irish
