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

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - A new report by Pete Sampson of “The Athletic” suggests the Irish may be closing in on a replacement for defensive coordinator Al Golden. After spending the past three years running the Notre Dame defense Golden has accepted the job as defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Fighting Irish have been on the lookout for a new defensive coordinator following Golden's move to the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL and appear to be keen on an ex-Rutgers head honcho

Al Golden is headed to Cincinnati to become defensive coordinator for the Bengals.

Former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash might have an interest in returning to college football and if true, it might take place at the national runner-up. According to Pete Sampson of The Athletic, Ash has emerged as a “strong candidate” to be the next defensive coordinator at Notre Dame.

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,

It took only a couple of days for the Notre Dame college football team to lose several of their most important pieces to this year's successful season. But few losses loom larger than defensive coordinator Al Golden leaving for the NFL.