Report | Chris Ash To Be Next Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator
Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman have made a key hire for the 2025 campaign, as Chris Ash is set to become the next defensive coordinator per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Ash, who has head coaching experience, comes to South Bend from the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he worked as a pro scout in 2024. He also spent two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders coaching defensive backs and Ash worked as the Jaguars safeties coach in 2021.
Prior to his NFL stint, Ash spent two seasons at Texas. In 2020, Tom Herman named his defensive coordinator and safeties coach. According to Texas sources, Ash quickly became Herman’s fall back. The Longhorns finished 7-3 and Herman was fired following the 2020 season.
In Ash’s last season working as a defensive coordinator, Texas finished No. 61 in scoring defense (28.5 ppg), No. 36 in rushing defense (140.3 ypc), No. 27 in yards per carry (3.63) and No. 108 in passing defense (266.2 ypg).
Ash also spent 2016-2019 as the head coach at Rutgers. Life wasn’t great for Ash at Rugters as he finished with a record of 8-33.
That said, Ash was able to get the Rutgers job by being co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Ohio State. In 2014, Ash won a national title with the Buckeyes, working side-by-side with Luke Fickell and under Urban Meyer’s tutelage.
THE ASH FILE
- Drake (1997) | Graduate assistant
- Drake (1998–1999) | Defensive coordinator
- Iowa State (2000–2001) | Graduate assistant
- Iowa State (2002–2005) | Defensive backs coach
- Iowa State (2006) | Defensive backs coach & recruiting coordinator
- San Diego State (2007–2008) | Defensive backs coach & recruiting coordinator
- Iowa State (2009) | Defensive backs coach & recruiting coordinator
- Wisconsin (2010) | Defensive backs coach
- Wisconsin (2011–2012) | Defensive coordinator & defensive backs coach
- Arkansas (2013) | Defensive coordinator & defensive backs coach
- Ohio State (2014–2015) | Co-Defensive coordinator & safeties coach
- Rutgers (2016–2019) | Head coach
- Texas (2019) | Defensive analyst
- Texas (2020) | Defensive coordinator & safeties coach
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2021) | Safeties coach
- Las Vegas Raiders (2022–2023) | Defensive backs coach
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2024-present) | Scout
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