
Notre Dame Football has recently experienced significant changes in its coaching and administrative staff. On February 1, 2025, the university officially announced the hiring of Chris Ash as the new Defensive Coordinator. Ash brings a wealth of experience from both collegiate and professional football. He previously served as a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars and held coaching positions with the Las Vegas Raiders. In the college arena, Ash was the defensive coordinator for the 2014 National Champion Ohio State team and served as the head coach at Rutgers from 2016 to 2019. Head Coach Marcus Freeman highlighted Ash’s extensive experience and strong reputation in player development as crucial assets for the program. ([onefootdown.com](https://www.onefootdown.com/2025/2/1/24356795/notre-dame-football-irish-officially-announce-chris-ash-as-new-defensive-coordinator-nd-news-dc-cfb?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
In contrast, the program faced a significant departure with General Manager Chad Bowden leaving to join the USC Trojans in a similar capacity. Bowden, who had been instrumental in Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts since 2021, was recognized for his outstanding work in roster construction and utilization of the transfer portal. His departure is seen as a substantial loss for Notre Dame, given his pivotal role in assembling top-tier recruiting classes and managing player personnel. ([si.com](https://www.si.com/college/notredame/football/notre-dame-gm-chad-bowden-leaves-usc?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
These developments mark a period of transition for Notre Dame Football. The addition of Chris Ash is anticipated to bolster the team’s defensive strategies, while the departure of Chad Bowden presents challenges in maintaining the program’s recruiting momentum. The university will need to address this vacancy promptly to continue its trajectory of success in collegiate football.
– [onefootdown.com](https://www.onefootdown.com/2025/2/1/24356795/notre-dame-football-irish-officially-announce-chris-ash-as-new-defensive-coordinator-nd-news-dc-cfb?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– [onefootdown.com](https://www.onefootdown.com/2025/1/24/24351362/notre-dame-football-gm-chad-bowden-leaving-for-the-usc-trojans-college-cfb-nd-news-irish-recruiting?utm_source=chatgpt.com)