Notre Dame football offensive line coach Joe Rudolph worked with Chris Ash at Wisconsin for two seasons, coaching tight ends.

Notre Dame football has wasted little time attempting to fill its defensive coordinator vacancy after losing Al Golden to the NFL. The Irish are eyeing former Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Chris Ash to join head coach Marcus Freeman’s staff as the program attempts to build off its College Football Playoff runner-up finish this season,

Like any hire, there are certainly positives that Ash brings to the table. There are also some negatives, and unknowns to navigate. Here are some of the things to know about Ash,

Marcus Freeman has done one of the best jobs in college football this season, leading Notre Dame to the national championship after the Fighting Irish were upset by Northern Illinois in their second game of the season.

And in 2025, it still says it all to say that truly, behind every great man is a woman. And behind Marcus Freeman, the head coach of the Notre Dame football team and the sport’s man of the hour, is a beautiful and dedicated wife and mom of six.

Chris Ash could be returning to college football with a big job at a powerhouse program. The former Rutgers head coach “has emerged as a strong candidate” to be named the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame,