Chris Ash

Chris Ash

Ash in 2015
Current position
Title	Defensive coordinator
Team	Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Conference	Independent
Biographical details
Born	(1973-12-24) December 24, 1973 (age 51) Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.
Playing career
1992–1995	Drake
Position(s)	Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1997	Drake (GA)
1998–1999	Drake (DC)
2000–2001	Iowa State (GA)
2002–2005	Iowa State (DB)
2006	Iowa State (DB/RC)
2007–08	San Diego State (DB/RC)
2009	Iowa State (DB/RC)
2010	Wisconsin (DB)
2011–2012	Wisconsin (DC/DB)
2013	Arkansas (DC/DB)
2014–2015	Ohio State (co-DC/S)
2016–2019	Rutgers
2019	Texas (analyst)
2020	Texas (DC/S)
2021	Jacksonville Jaguars (S)
2022–2023	Las Vegas Raiders (DB)
2024	Jacksonville Jaguars (scout)
2025–present	Notre Dame (DC)
Head coaching record
Overall	8–32 (.200)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
CFP national champion (2014)

Christopher Ash (born December 24, 1973) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He served as the head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from 2016 to 2019, and defensive coordinator of the Wisconsin Badgers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Texas Longhorns. He has also previously coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL).

Early years

Ash played college football at Drake University as a defensive back on the football team and earned his bachelor's degree. In 2005, Ash received his master's degree from Iowa State University. ^[1]

Coaching career

Early career

Ash held assistant coaching positions with the Drake Bulldogs, Princeton Tigers, Iowa State Cyclones, and San Diego State Aztecs, before being hired by the Wisconsin Badgers in 2010. ^{[2] [3]}

Arkansas

In 2012, Ash joined as the defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas, following former Badgers head coach Bret Bielema who was hired in the same capacity at Arkansas. ^[4]

Ohio State

In January 2014, Ash was hired as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes. ^[5]

Rutgers

On December 7, 2015, Ash agreed to a 5-year, $11 million-guaranteed contract to become the head coach at Rutgers. ^[6] He was fired as Rutgers head coach on September 29, 2019 due to poor performance. ^[7]

Texas

Ash spent the rest of the 2019 season as an analyst at the University of Texas at Austin. ^[8]

On December 15, 2019, Ash was hired as the defensive coordinator at Texas ^[9] there he spent the 2020 season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On February 11, 2021, Ash was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars as their defensive backs and safeties coach under head coach Urban Meyer. ^[10] . Meyer was later fired after Week 14 due to a 2-11 start, allegations of player abuse, and various other problems. ^[11] . Ash was not retained after the conclusion of the season.

Las Vegas Raiders

On February 6, 2022, Ash was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders as their defensive backs coach under head coach Josh McDaniels. ^[12] On January 20, a day after Pierce was given the head coach job, Ash was not retained by new Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce.

Notre Dame

After spending a season as an NFL scout for the Jaguars, ^[13] Ash was hired to take over as defensive coordinator for Notre Dame after the departure of Al Golden. ^[14]

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big Ten Conference)(2016–2019)
2016	Rutgers	2–10	0–9	7th (East)
2017	Rutgers	4–8	3–6	5th (East)
2018	Rutgers	1–11	0–9	7th (East)
2019	Rutgers	1–3*	0–2	(East)
Rutgers:		8–32	3–26
Total:		8–32

^*Ash was fired mid-season on September 29, 2019.

Personal life

A native of Ottumwa, Iowa, Ash is married to his wife, Doreen. They have four children: Tanner, Jacey, Brady and Alexis. ^[15]

References

1. "Chris Ash Bio - San Diego State Official Athletic Site". Goaztecs.cstv.com. December 24, 1973. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
2. "Chris Ash Bio - UWBadgers.com - The Official Athletic Site of the Wisconsin Badgers". UWBadgers.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
3. "Buckeyes hire ex-Arkansas and Wisconsin assistant Ash as co-defensive coordinator/safeties". Fox News. January 23, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
4. Hernandez, Rob (January 15, 2014). "College football: Ex-Badgers defensive coordinator Chris Ash leaving Bret Bielema for Urban Meyer : Sports". Host.madison.com. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
5. Pete Thamel (January 14, 2014). "Ohio State hires Arkansas' Chris Ash, finalizes deal with Penn State's Larry Johnson". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
6. Keith Sargeant (December 7, 2014). "Here are the contract terms for new Rutgers football coach Chris Ash". NJ.com. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
7. Sargeant, Keith (September 29, 2019). "Chris Ash fired as Rutgers football coach; Nunzio Campanile will take over". NJ.com . Retrieved September 29, 2019.
8. Kratch, James (October 11, 2019). "What Chris Ash's post-firing stint helping Texas means for Rutgers". NJ.com . Retrieved October 22, 2019.
9. Nick Bromberg (December 15, 2019). "Report: Texas hires former Rutgers coach Chris Ash as defensive coordinator". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
10. Oehser, John (February 11, 2021). "Official: Cullen, defensive staff named". www.jaguars.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
11. https://www.nfl.com/news/urban-meyer-fired-as-jaguars-head-coach
12. Damien, Levi (February 6, 2022). "Report: Raiders to hire Chris Ash as defensive backs coach". Raiderswire.com.
13. https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/jaguars/2024/06/01/jacksonville-jaguars-report-chris-ash-hire-scout-urban-meyer/73937053007/
14. https://www.theirishtribune.com/post/breaking-notre-dame-hires-chris-ash-as-its-newest-defensive-coordinator
15. "Ottumwa native hired to coach at Ohio State » Sports". The Ottumwa Courier. Retrieved March 4, 2014.

External links

• Las Vegas Raiders profile