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SOUTH BEND — After three exemplary seasons guiding the Notre Dame football defense, Al Golden is making a U-turn back to the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.
Golden, 55, will get his first chance to be a defensive coordinator at the professional level after previously spending six years as an NFL assistant. Two of those seasons (2020-21) were as linebackers coach for the Bengals under former coordinator Lou Anarumo, hired this week as DC for the Indianapolis Colts after the Bengals dismissed him.
According to ESPN, Golden informed Notre Dame officials of his decision Wednesday afternoon.
Doyel: Notre Dame football is back. Not perfect, but getting there under Marcus Freeman
In a bit of symmetry, Golden left the Bengals for Notre Dame after losing in the Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams in February 2022. Golden’s 42nd and final game on the Irish sideline for coach Marcus Freeman was Monday’s 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship.
Golden is one of five finalists for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach. Despite some late-season leakage, an injury-marred Irish defense finished tied for fourth in FBS scoring defense at 15.5 points per game.
Notre Dame (14-2) led the nation with 33 takeaways, scored six defensive touchdowns, and led all Power Four teams in turnover margin (plus-18).
Defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Mickens, 37, and defensive run-game coordinator Al Washington, 40, give Freeman a strong pair of in-house options as Golden’s replacement. Mickens, architect of the nation’s top pass-efficiency defense the past two years, has known Freeman for more than two decades, dating to their time at Wayne High School in Ohio.
“He’s not just a great evaluator, but he’s a great teacher,” Freeman said of Mickens on Dec. 31 at the Sugar Bowl. “He develops…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/al-golden-leaving-notre-dame-233528339.html
Author : Indianapolis Star
Publish date : 2025-01-22 23:35:00
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