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Newsstand: Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden named Broyles Award semifinalist

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•12/05/24•

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Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Al Golden. (Mike Miller, Blue & Gold)

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is officially one of the top 15 assistant coaches in college football because, well, of course he is. That distinction was set in stone when Golden was named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award earlier this week.

The Broyles Award is given annually to the top assistant coach in the country.

The Fighting Irish defense leads the nation in team passing efficiency defense (94.10), turnovers gained (28) and defensive touchdowns scored (6). Golden’s unit is top 10 in many other metrics, including third in scoring defense at 13.6 points per game, fourth in passing yards allowed per game (157.9), seventh in yards per play (4.53), seventh in opponent third down conversion percentage (30.59), seventh in opponent fourth down conversion percentage (34.29) and ninth in opponent red zone conversion percentage (16.67).

Here is the full list of 15 semifinalists, from the award’s official website.

ARIZONA STATE – Marcus Arroyo, Offensive Coordinator
ARMY WEST POINT – Nate Woody, Defensive Coordinator
BOISE STATE – Dirk Koetter, Offensive Coordinator
COLORADO – Robert Livingston, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
INDIANA – Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
MIAMI (FL) – Shannon Dawson, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
NOTRE DAME – Al Golden, Defensive Coordinator
OHIO STATE – Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator
OREGON – Tosh Lupoi, Defensive Coordinator
PENN STATE – Tom Allen, Defensive Coordinator
SMU – Scott Symons, Defensive Coordinator
SOUTH CAROLINA – Clayton White, Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
TENNESSEE – Tim Banks, Defensive Coordinator
TEXAS – Pete Kwiatkowski, Defensive Coordinator and Outside Linebackers
VANDERBILT – Tim Beck, Offensive Coordinator

Notre Dame tweets of the day

Before we get to National Signing Day content … let’s check in on what the Irish’s head coach thinks about his program’s football independence.

As for signing day, wow. This is quite the get for the Irish.

Meet all of the Irish’s signees.

Fighting Irish quote of the day

“We have no plans on going to the transfer portal for a quarterback.”

— Marcus Freeman on the Irish’s direction at quarterback in 2025

Blue & Gold headlines of the day

• Fighting Irish Football National Signing Day Central
• Riley Leonard named semifinalist for this award
• Notre Dame fends off SEC and ACC schools, signs Florida playmaker Dallas Golden
• Former Clemson commit Blake Hebert officially becomes the Irish’s 2025 quarterback
• WR Jerome Bettis Jr. — son of The Bus — signs with the Fighting Irish

• Elite safety JaDon Blair officially joins Fighting Irish football on National Signing Day
• OT Will Black signs with Notre Dame, giving Marcus Freeman first On3 Industry five-star
• Chicagoland four-star EDGE Christopher Burgess Jr. signs with Fighting Irish football
• Fighting Irish legacy recruit, four-star TE James Flanigan signs with the Irish
• Phoenix CB Cree Thomas becomes official with ND on National Signing Day

• Blue & Gold’s Notre Dame assistant coach recruiter of the year: Mike Mickens
• Five Fighting Irish class of 2025 signees who can contribute as true freshmen
• A By The Numbers look at the 2025 Fighting Irish recruiting class
• ND signs LB Ko’o Kia, brother of Irish sophomore LB Kahanu Kia
• National Signing Day: Marcus Freeman, Chad Bowden press conference live updates

• Signing day stunner: Notre Dame signs Top-150 four-star LB Madden Faraimo
• Everything Marcus Freeman said at National Signing Day press conference
• Everything Chad Bowden said on National Signing Day
• Singer: ND changes vibe on 2025 recruiting class with massive Madden Faraimo commitment
• ‘I chose God’: How Irish landed four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo on National Signing Day

• Why Notre Dame has ‘no plans’ looking in transfer portal for 2025 quarterback
• National Signing Day report card: 2025 Fighting Irish football recruiting class grades
• Five thoughts on the Fighting Irish signing elite LB recruit Madden Faraimo
• 10 thoughts to reflect on Notre Dame’s National Signing Day
• WATCH: Fighting Irish National Signing Day show with Goolsby, Hyde and Singer

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